It is not without some question, however, that I accept the generous challenge. For I am not sure that I myself believe in the military type of socialism which the editor seems continually to have in mind. The book, which more than all others combined has brought socialism before American thought, has also furnished to its opponents a splendidly clear target in its military organization. It cannot be repeated too often, however, that the army type is not conceded by socialists to be an essential, even, of nationalistic socialism. Democratic socialism differs considerably from military socialism, and may be fully as national in its reach. In so far as Mr. Flower's arguments apply to democratic socialism, the following paragraphs may be taken as a rejoinder. To bring the chief counts of the editor's indictment again clearly before the readers, it will be well to summarize them:-- (1) National socialism means governmentalism, which is tyranny over the individual. (2) National socialism means paternalism, which, exercised by all the people, is the most hopeless kind of tyranny. (3) National socialism means the arrest of progress, because the majority will surely tyrannize over the small "vanguard of human progress." (4) National socialism will be needless when the people are educated to the fraternalism which alone could temper the inevitable despotism of the majority. There is a period in every agitation of a new idea when the most prosperous weapon against it is a thumping epithet. The name must be apt enough to stick. Furthermore, no matter how misleading, it must be suggestive of sinister things. "Governmentalism" is such a word. In its etymology it is harmless enough. Governmental is the adjective of government, and means "exercising the powers of government." Governmentalism, therefore, means the exercise of the powers of government considered as a principle. But the word when made the bogy of socialism is supposed to mean the principle of the exercise of the powers of government raised to the _nth_ degree, and separated from the people. It suggests a shadowy somewhat of officialdom; a Corliss engine of functionaryism; all of which is thought of as apart from the people, yet pressing upon the people. In other words, the name "governmentalism," while intended as a word of opprobrium for socialism, really indicates the amazing misconception which the critics have of the nation itself, and of the relation of the nation's life to its self-direction.