[Sidenote ◆1 Cupidity, therefore, or the desire for sufficient income, is a legitimate basis for popular interest in politics;] ◆¹ Here, then, is the principle which I assume throughout this volume. And now, I think that, having explained it thus, I may, without offence to either Tory or Radical, venture to condemn, as strongly as its stupidity deserves, the way in which politicians are at present so often attacked for appealing to what is called the cupidity of the poorer classes. Cupidity is in itself the most general and legitimate desire to which any politician or political party can appeal. It is illegitimate only when it is excited by illegitimate methods: and these methods are of two obvious kinds. One is an exaggeration of the advantages which are put before the people as obtainable: the other is the advocacy of a class of measures as means to them, by which not even a part of them could be, in reality, obtained. Everybody must see that a cupidity which is excited thus is one of the most dangerous elements by which the prosperity of a country can be threatened. But a cupidity which is excited in the right way, which is controlled by a knowledge of what wealth really exists, and of the fundamental conditions on which its distribution depends—is merely another name for spirit, energy, and intelligence. [Sidenote ◆1 The aim of this book is to educate popular cupidity.] ◆¹ My one aim then, in writing this book, is to educate the cupidity of voters, no matter what their party, by popularising knowledge of this non-controversial kind. And such knowledge will be found, as I have said already, to be composed partly of particular facts, and partly of general truths. We will begin with the consideration of certain particular facts, which must, however, be prefaced by a few general observations. CHAPTER II _The Conditions involved in the idea of a Legislative Redistribution of Wealth; and the Necessary Limitations of the Results._ [Sidenote ◆1 All men ask of a Government either the increase or the maintenance of their incomes.]