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of upper…class and midd1e…class families anxious to place their children； will see that no small encouragement to the spread of legislative control is now coming from those who； but for the personal interests thus arising； would be hostile to it。 This pressing desire for careers is enforced by the preference for careers which are thought respectable。 〃Even if his salary is small； his occupation will be that of a gentleman；〃 thinks the father； who wants to get a Government…clerkship for his son。 And this relative dignity of State…servants as compared with those occupied in business； increases as the administrative organization becomes a larger and more powerful element in society； and tends more and more to fix the standard of honour。 The prevalent ambition with a young Frenchman is to get some small official post in his locality； to rise thence to a place in the local centre of government； and finally to reach some head office in Paris。 And in Russia； where that universality of State…regulation which characterizes the militant type of society has been carried furthest； we see this ambition pushed to its extreme。 Says Mr Wallace； quoting a passage from a play： 〃All men； even shopkeepers and cobblers； aim at becoming officers； and the man who has passed his whole life without official rank seems to be not a human being。〃（7*） These various influences working from above downwards meet with an increasing response of expectations and solicitations proceeding from below upwards。 The hard…worked and over…burdened who form the great majority； and still more the incapables perpetually helped who are ever led to look for more help； are ready supporters of schemes which promise them this or the other benefit by State agency； and ready believers of those who tell them that such benefits can be given； and ought to be given。 They listen with eager faith to all builders of political air…castles； from Oxford graduates down to Irish irreconcilables； and every additional tax…supported appliance for their welfare raises hopes of further ones。 Indeed the more numerous public instrumentalities become； the more is there generated in citizens the notion that everything is to be done for them； and nothing by them。 Each generation is made less familiar with the attainment of desired ends by individual actions or private combinations； and more familiar with the attainment of them by governmental agencies； until； eventually； governmental agencies come to be thought of as the only available agencies。 This result was well shown in the recent Trades…Unions Congress at Paris。 The English delegates； reporting to their constituents； said that between themselves and their foreign colleagues 〃the point of difference was the extent to which the State should be asked to protect labour：〃 reference being thus made to the fact； conspicuous in the reports of the proceedings； that the French delegates always invoked governmental power as the only means of satisfying their wishes。 The diffusion of education has worked； and will work still more； in the same direction。 〃We must educate our masters；〃 is the well…known saying of a Liberal who opposed the last extension of the franchise。 Yes； if the education were worthy to be so called； and were relevant to the political enlightenment needed； much might be hoped from it。 But knowing rules of syntax； being able to add up correctly； having geographical information； and a memory stocked with the dates of kings' accessions and generals' victories； no more implies fitness to form political conclusions than acquirement of skill in drawing implies expertness in telegraphing； or than ability to play cricket implies proficiency on the violin。 〃Surely；〃 rejoins some one； 〃facility in reading opens the way to political knowledge。〃 Doubtless； but will the way be followed？ Table…talk proves that nine out of ten people read what amuses them or interests them rather than what instructs them； and that the last thing they read is something which tells them disagreeable truths or dispels groundless hopes。 That popular education results in an extensive reading of publications which foster pleasant illusions rather than of those which insist on hard realities； is beyond question。 Says 〃A Mechanic；〃 writing in the Pall Mall Gazette of December 3； 1883：
〃Improved education instills the desire for culture culture instills the desire for many things as yet quite beyond working men's reach。。。 in the furious competition to which the present age is given up they are utterly impossible to the poorer classes； hence they are discontented with things as they are； and the more educated the more discontented。 Hence； too； Mr Ruskin and Mr Morris are regarded as true prophets by many of us。〃
And that the connexion of cause and effect here alleged is a real one； we may see clearly enough in the present state of Germany。 Being possessed of electoral power； as are now the mass of those who are thus led to nurture sanguine anticipations of benefits to be obtained by social reorganization； it results that whoever seeks their votes must at least refrain from exposing their mistaken beliefs； even if he does not yield to the temptation to express agreement with them。 Every candidate for Parliament is prompted to propose or support some new piece of ad captandum legislation。 Nay； even the chiefs of parties these anxious to retain office and those to wrest it from them severally aim to get adherents by outbidding one another。 Each seeks popularity by promising more than his opponent has promised； as we have lately seen。 And then； as divisions in Parliament show us； the traditional loyalty to leaders overrides questions concerning the intrinsic propriety of proposed measures。 Representatives are unconscientious enough to vote for Bills which they believe to be wrong in principle； because party…needs and regard for the net election demand it。 And thus a vicious policy is strengthened even by those who see its viciousness。 Meanwhile there goes on out…of…doors an active propaganda to which all these influences are ancillary。 Communistic theories； partially indorsed by one Act of Parliament after another； and tacitly if not avowedly favoured by numerous public men seeking supporters； are being advocated more and more vociferously under one or other form by popular leaders； and urged on by organized societies。 There is the movement for land…nationalization which； aiming at a system of land…tenure equitable in the abstract； is； as all the world knows； pressed by Mr George and his friends with avowed disregard for the just claims of existing owners； and as the basis of a scheme going more than half…way to State…socialism。 And then there is the thorough…going Democratic Federation of Mr Hyndman and his adherents。 We are told by them that 〃the handful of marauders who now hold possession ＇of the land＇ have and can have no right save brute force against the tens of millions whom they wrong。〃 They exclaim against 〃the shareholders who have been allowed to lay hands upon （！） our great railway communications。〃 They condemn 〃above all； the active capitalist class； the loan…mongers； the farmers； the mine exploiters； the contractors； the middle…men；