“Ah, now you are about to criticise the Monarchy, I suspect!” exclaimed Mortimer. “But, pray tell me, is your Nihilism going to cure all these evils you have portrayed?” “You speak of Nihilism,” answered the High President gravely, “as if it were the beginning and end of the entire programme. As a matter of fact, Nihilism is only the beginning. As I have told you, we must first wipe out existing institutions so that we may properly build up a new Commonwealth, or Republic, founded upon the abolition of industrial slavery, the brotherhood of man and the more equal apportionment of benefits to the race.” “But you spoke particularly of the evils of individual land ownership,” persisted Mortimer. “Would you under your scheme do away with that?” “I undoubtedly would,” answered the High President. “It seems to me a proposition beyond argument that God created the land and all within it for the benefit of mankind in general and not for the benefit of a given few. The land should no more be owned individually than the air, or the seas. It should be the property of all and inure to the benefit of all--in a word, belong to the State. Those using land, either urban or agricultural, should lease from the State and pay the rent tribute to the State and the benefits of the land--created by God for all--would thus inure to the benefit of all.” “Would not this tend to accumulate,” suggested the Professor, “too vast sums in the hands of the State--sums so vast that there would constantly be a stringency of money and a consequent business paralysis?”