romised land of Herbert Spencer, the
abolition of government. But of government only as a directing and
repressive power.' At the same time and in the same degree of
approach, he regarded it as possible for society also to realize
the dream of Socialism."[27]

The following passage leaves no doubt that Mr. Post is correct, and at
the same time shows in the clearest way how the two policies of reform
were interwoven in Henry George's mind:--

"Government could take up itself the transmission of messages by
telegraph, as well as by mail, of building and operating railroads,
as well as of the opening and maintaining common roads. With the
present functions so simplified and reduced, functions such as
these could be assumed without danger or strain, and would be under
the supervision of public attention, which is now distracted. There
would be a great and increasing surplus revenue from the taxation
of land values for material progress, which would go on with great
accelerated rapidity, would tend constantly to increase rent. This
revenue arising from the common property would be applied to the
common benefit, as were the revenues of Sparta. We might not
establish public tables--they would be unnecessary, but we could
establish public baths, museums, libraries, gardens, lecture rooms,
music and dancing halls, theaters, universities, technical schools,
shooting galleries, playgrounds, gymnasiums, etc. Heat, light, and
motive power, as well as water, might be conducted through our
streets at public expense; our roads be lined with fruit trees;
discoveries and inventors rewarded, scientific investigation
supported; in a thousand ways the public revenues made to foster
efforts for the public benefit. _We should reach the ideal of the
Socialist_, but not through government repression. _Government
would change its character, and would become the administration of
a great cooeperative society. It would become merely the agency by
which the common property was administered for the common
benefit_." (Italics mine.)[28]

But the "State Socialist" and the Individualist reformer, who are often
combined in one person, as in the case of Henry George, differ sharply
from Socialists of the Socialist movement in aiming at a society, which,
however widely government action is to be extended,