British Socialism. J. Ellis Barker

British Socialism - J. Ellis Barker


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no regard for the more ideal side of human interests. The Socialist recognises, far more than others, the higher ideals of human life as being its true end."[67] Therefore "Socialism seeks to improve the physical, mental, and spiritual environment of every man, woman, and child, so that all mankind may be purer, healthier, happier, stronger, nobler, and that each generation may be nearer perfection than the one immediately preceding."[68] In other words, "the creation of a higher type of mankind than the modern man will be the result of Socialism. Men will have no need to think, day in, day out, where to get the bread for to-morrow."[69] "Material conditions form the fundamental basis of human existence. When these become common property, free to all and abundant for all, they will cease to have that importance they now possess. The sordid struggle for mere material things will disappear; free play will be given to man's higher faculties, and the struggle, competition, or emulation between man and man will be for the realisation of his highest conceivable aspirations."[70]

      We'll grow up true men and women

      The poet has described in a vision this phase of the golden age of Socialism as follows:

      A strain of distant music

       Floats on the gentle breeze,

       Its captivating sweetness

       Bends e'en the proudest knees;

       Now soft as angel whispers,

       Then, loud as trumpet's blast

       It sounds the knell of sorrows

       And pains for ever past.

      Now sweeter and more varied,

       The music doth appear;

       Ten thousand harps Æolian

       Seem to be drawing near.

       Ten thousand angels' voices

      [24] Are mingled with the strain,

       Chanting the song of Freedom—

       Justice has come to reign;

      Telling of bounteous harvests,

       Of waving golden corn,

       Waiting the reaper's sickle,

       And asking to be shorn;

       Lands rich with milk and honey

       Promised in days of yore;

       Asking all those that hunger

       To eat and faint no more.

      The song grows loud and mighty

       As thunder in the storm,

       The tyrant quakes and trembles,

       And hides his guilty form;

       And stronger and still stronger

       The joyous chorus grows—

       Rejoice! all ye that labour,

      These things shall be! a loftier race

       Than e'er the world hath known shall rise

       With flame of freedom in their souls,

       And light of science in their eyes.

      They shall be gentle, brave, and strong,

       To spill no drop of blood, but dare

       All that may plant man's


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