e exception noted) to be
both correct and excellent, and it is safer to borrow from a writer
quite unconnected with the Society an estimate of its place in the
history of English political thought, rather than to offer my own
necessarily prejudiced opinion of its achievements.

* * * * *

But I must revert again to the Fabian "method." "Make Socialists," said
Mr. Wells in "Faults of the Fabian," "and you will achieve Socialism.
There is no other way"; and Mr. Wells in his enthusiasm anticipated a
society of ten thousand Fabians as the result of a year's propaganda.
Will Socialism come through the making of Socialists?

If so, Socialism has made but little progress in England, since the
number who profess and call themselves Socialist is still insignificant.
The foregoing pages have shown in the words of a student of political
thought how Socialism has been made in England in quite another way.

We did not at the time repudiate Mr. Wells' dictum: indeed we adopted
his policy, and attempted the making of Socialism on a large scale. No
doubt there is a certain ambiguity in the word "Socialists." It may mean
members of Socialist societies, or at any rate "unattached Socialists,"
all those in fact who use the name to describe their political opinions.
Or it may merely be another way of stating that the existing form of
society can only be altered by the wills of living people, and change
will only be in the direction of Socialism, when the wills which are
effective for the purpose choose that direction in preference to
another.

Mr. Wells himself described as a "fantastic idea" the notion that "the
world may be manoeuvred into Socialism without knowing it": that
"society is to keep like it is ... and yet Socialism will be soaking
through it all, changing without a sign,"[56] and he at any rate meant
by his phrase, "make members of Socialist societies."

The older and better Fabian doctrine is set out in the opening
paragraphs of Tract 70, the "Report on Fabian Policy" (1896).

"THE MISSION OF THE FABIANS

The object of the Fabian Society is to persuade the English people to
make their political constitution thoroughly democratic and so to
socialise their industries as to make the livelihood of the people
entirely independent of private capitalism.

The Fabian Society endeavours to pursue its Socialist and Democratic
objects with complete singleness of aim. For example:--

It has n