knowledge either of the history of society, or
of the present situation. Hypnotised by their own enthusiasm, they
allow themselves to use language which is not only altogether
excessive, but also highly inflammatory. I am bound honestly to say
that I think some of the clergy are great offenders in this
respect. Having created or stimulated popular discontent by such
rhetorical exaggeration, they point to the discontent as itself
sufficient proof of the existence of social oppression. They are
immersed in a fallacy.

With boldness he carries the war into the camp of his enemies:

There is much food for thought in the notorious fact that the
critics of existing society, so far from being able to count upon
the popular discontent, are compelled to organise an elaborate
system of defaming propaganda in order to induce the multitude to
believe themselves oppressed.

He charges the social reformer with an immoral idealism. The worker is
encouraged to prolong his work, is taught that he may with perfect
justice adopt the policy of ca' canny, seeing that his first duty is,
not to his master, but to his wife and children.

"Imagine the effect on character," cries the Bishop, "of eight hours'
dishonesty every day, eight hours of a man's second or third best, never
his whole heart in his job! And this is called idealism!"

If industrialism were swept away, and some form of Socialism were
established, the success of the new order, as of the old, would
have to turn on the willingness of the people honestly to work it.
It hardly lies in the mouths of men who are labouring incessantly
to obstruct the working of the existing order, to build an argument
against it on the measure of their success in making it fail. There
are confessedly many grave evils in our industrial system, but
there are also very evident benefits. It is, like human nature
itself, a mingled thing. Instead of exaggerating the evils, the
wiser course would surely be to inquire how far they are capable of
remedy, and then cautiously--for the daily bread of these many
millions of British folk depends on the normal working of our
industrial system--to attempt reforms. Reckless denunciation is not
only wrong in itself, but it creates a listless, disaffected
temper, the farthest removed possible from the spirit of good
citiz