,FABIAN ,ESSAYS 9 ,SOCIALISM 

,PEOPLE 3 

,AU?OR 3 ,WILLIAM ,MORRIS 

,TEXT 3 

,WILLIAM ,MORRIS4 ,COMMONWEAL4 #ahi 
,FABIAN ,ESSAYS 9 ,SOCIALISM 

,S\RCE3 0,FABIAN ,ESSAYS 9 ,SOCIALISM .<#a.>0 7REVIEW7 ,COMMONWEAL1 ,VOL #f1 ,NO4 #b#a#a1 #be ,JANU>Y #a#h#i1 P4#b#h-#b#i2 
,TRANSCRIB$3 BY ,T$ ,CRAW=D4  

,?IS BOOK IS ( IMPORTANCE AS EMBODY+ ! VIEWS ( A SOCIETY :I* HAS BE5 SO ACTIVE 9 LECTUR+ ON BEHO( ( ! ,SOCIALI/ MOVEM5T4 ,9DE$1 SOME TIME AGO MANY ( US ?\<T & SAID ?AT ! ,FABIANS %\LD PUBLI% A VOLUME ( !IR LECTURES2 &1 )\T WI%+ TO C>P AT ! PRES5T EXPRESSION ( OP9IONS FROM :I* WE ( ! ,SOCIALI/ ,LEAGUE DISS5T 9 SOME MEASURE1 ,I CANNOT HELP WI%+ ?AT SU* A VOLUME HAD APPE>$ AB\T ?REE YE>S AGO3 = SU* A BOOK PUBLI%$ AT ?AT DATE W\LD HAVE DEALT ALMO/ :OLLY ) ! ECONOMICAL & PRACTICAL SIDE ( ! QUE/ION1 & W\LD HAVE =M$ A K9D ( TEXTBOOK = ,SOCIALI/S ( ALL %ADES ( OP9ION2 & ILLUM9AT$1 AS IT W\LD HAVE BE51 BY ! BRILLIANT & ATTRACTIVE /YLE ( SOME ( ! PRES5T ESSAYI/S1 W\LD HAVE BE5 A MO/ USEFUL WEAPON ( ATTACK ON ! CAPITALI/ POSITION AS LONG AS ! BATTLE MI<T LA/2 :]EAS A L>GE P>T ( ! PRES5T VOLUME IS GIV5 UP TO ! ADVOCACY ( ! FANTA/IC & UNREAL TACTIC :I* ! ,FABIAN ,SOCIETY HAS EXCOGITAT$ ( LATE1 & :I* IS AT BE/ T5TATIVE & TEMPOR>Y2 IS H>DLY CON/RUCT$ TO LA/ LONG] ?AN ! COM+ 9TO P[] ( ! NEXT ,LIB]AL GOV]NM5T4 ,! RESULT IS1 ?AT ! CLE> EXPOSITION ( ! FIR/ PR9CIPLES ( ,SOCIALISM1 & ! CRITICISM ( ! PRES5T FALSE SOCIETY 7:I* LATT] NO ONE KN[S H[ TO MAKE MORE DAMAG+ ?AN ,MR ,B]N>D ,%AW1 EG47 IS SET ASIDE = ! SAKE ( PU%+ A !ORY ( TACTICS1 :I* C\LD NOT BE C>RI$ \T 9 PRACTICE2 & :I*1 IF IT C\LD BE1 W\LD /ILL LEAVE US 9 A POSITION FROM :I* WE %\LD HAVE TO BEG9 \R ATTACK ON CAPITALISM OV] AGA92 A POSITION1 IT MAY BE SAID1 :I* MI<T BE BETT] OR MI<T BE WORSE = US ?AN \R PRES5T ONE1 AS F> AS ! ACTUAL /RUGGLE = ! NEW SOCIETY IS CONC]N$4 

,MR ,SYDNEY ,WEBB1 TO JUDGE FROM ?IS BOOK1 IS ! LEAD] 9 ?IS SOME:AT DISA/R\S MOVE4 ,HE SEEMS TO 5JOY ALL ! HUMILIATIONS ( OPPORTUNISM1 TO REVEL 9 IT1 SO TO SAY2 &1 9DE$1 HE W\LD APPE> TO DRAG SOME ( HIS FELL[-WRIT]S SOME:AT UNWILL+LY BEH9D HIS *>IOT :EELS4 ,9 HIS H&S ! >GUM5TUM AD HOM9EM BECOMES A RA!R DANG]\SLY D\BLE-$G$ WEAPON4 ,HE IS SO ANXI\S TO PROVE ! COMMONPLACE ?AT \R PRES5T 9DU/RIAL SY/EM EMBRACES SOME ( ! MA*9]Y BY MEANS ( :I* A ,SOCIALI/ SY/EM MI<T BE WORK$1 & ?AT SOME ( ! SAME MA*9]Y IS US$ BY ! PRES5T MUNICIPALITIES1 & ! BUREAUCRATIC C5TRAL GOV]NM5T1 ?AT HIS PAP] T5DS TO PRODUCE ! IMPRESSION ( ONE :O ?9KS ?AT WE >E ALREADY 9 ! FIR/ /AGES ( SOCIALI/IC LIFE1 ALL ! :ILE ?AT '! POOR WE HAVE ALWAYS ) US'1 & ?AT ! WORK]S >E WORSE (F ?AN !Y W]E UND] ! FEUDAL HI]>*Y4 ,! RETORT ( ! 5EMY IS OBVI\S3 ',IF WE >E ALREADY ALL ,SOCIALI/S1 BE HAPPY6 = WE >E HAPPY6' 

,I GIVE ,MR ,SYDNEY ,WEBB ALL CR$IT = S9C]ITY 9 DESIR+ ! DE/RUCTION ( PRIVILEGE2 BUT IT IS /RANGE ?AT HIS ROLLICK+ OPPORTUNISM %\LD BL9D HIM TO ! FACT ?AT S9CE HE IS S9C]E1 ! PRIVILEG$ WILL SEE ?R\< HIS ATTEMPT TO HOODW9K !M 9TO JO9+ HIS ATTACK ON ! PRIVILEGE :I* IS !IR LIFE2 :ILE ! DISCONT5T$ MIS]ABLE WORK]S WILL BE DISC\RAG$ BY BE+ PRACTICALLY TOLD ?AT !Y >E ALREADY 5T]+ 9TO ! FRUITION ( ! ,PROMIS$ ,L&4 ,!Y MAY WELL SAY3 ',IS IT TO BE LIKE ?IS SOCIETY1 OR SOME?+ LIKE IT8 ,WE ?\<T ,SOCIALISM W\LD BE QUITE UNLIKE \R PRES5T POSITION2 IF IT IS NOT TO BE SO -4' ,TO AVOID ! DISA/] ( GA9+ ! D\BTFUL ALLIANCE ( ! WELL-TO-DO AT ! EXP5SE ( LOS+ ! SUPPORT ( ! POOR1 IT IS SURELY NECESS>Y NEV] TO CEASE SAY+3 ,! TE/ ( ! REALIZATION ( ,SOCIALISM WILL BE ! ABOLITION ( POV]TY4 

,LET US BE CLE> ON ?IS PO9T1 ?AT IF ! MUNICIPAL ,SOCIALISM ( ,MR ,SYDNEY ,WEBB W]E C>RI$ \T & PUT 9 PRACTICE1 ?\< IT %\LD LOGICALLY 7P]HAPS7 LEAD TO ! DE/RUCTION ( PRIVILEGE & POV]TY1 YET HI/ORICALLY IT MAY DO NO?+ ( ! K9D2 & ?AT AT ANY RATE IT IS NOT ,SOCIALISM1 AS IT W\LD /ILL ADMIT ( ! EXI/5CE ( COMPET+ CLASSES4 ,WE %\LD REMEMB] 7AS A ,SOCIALI/ SAID TO ME ! O!R DAY7 ?AT UND] ! ,ROMAN ,EMPIRE MUNICIPAL ADM9I/RATION REA*$ A PIT* :I* WE >E V]Y UNLIKELY TO COME TO 9 ,5GL& 9 \R DAY2 BUT IT HAD NO DE/RUCTIVE EFFECT ON ! SOCIETY ( ?AT EPO*1 :I* WAS BAS$ ON *ATTEL SLAV]Y & A PAUP] PROLET>IAT F$ BY ! DOLES ( ! RI*4 

,MR ,SYDNEY ,WEBB TAKES 9 H& ! 'HI/ORIC' BASIS ( ,SOCIALISM2 BUT HE IS NOT MORE HI/ORIC ?AN ANY O!R ( ! PAP]-WRIT]S1 9DE$1 LESS SO ?AN ,MR ,%AW2 HIS HI/ORY ONLY BEG9S AT ! P]IOD JU/ BE=E ! GREAT 9DU/RIAL REVOLUTION ( ! EI<TE5? C5TURY4 ,! 9DU/RIAL CONDITIONS ( ?IS P]IOD HE TREATS TOO R\<LY2 SO R\<LY1 9DE$1 AS TO BE BO? 9ACCURATE & MISLEAD+4 ,IT IS TRUE ?AT SOME ( ! 9DU/RIES ( ! C\NTRY W]E C>RI$ ON 9 AN 9DIVIDUALI/IC WAY ON ! SURFACE2 BUT ! GREAT] P>T W]E UND] ! RULE ( A MO/ ELABORATE DIVISION ( LABOR SY/EM1 ( :I* ! M$IEVAL WORKM5 KNEW NO?+2 & EV5 ! ,YORK%IRE WEAV]S 7AS WELL DESCRIB$ BY ,MR ,ILL+WOR?71 ?\< !Y W]E MA/]S ( !IR TOOLS1 TIME1 & MAT]IALS )9 !IR WORK%OPS OR H\SES1 WORK$ = A MA/] 7USUALLY A NEI<BOR+ F>M]7 :O EXPLOIT$ !M1 ?\< MILDLY1 & :O 9 HIS TURN SOLD ! GOODS TO A FACTOR4 ,! WORKM5 HAD A WORLD-M>KET BEH9D !IR BACKS ?\< !Y W]E UNCONSCI\S ( IT2 ! GOODS W]E MADE = PR(IT1 NOT PRIM>ILY = USE4 ,9 %ORT1 ,MR ,SYDNEY ,WEBB HAS IGNOR$ ! TRANSITION P]IOD ( 9DU/RY :I* BEGAN 9 ! SIXTE5? C5TURY ) ! BREAK UP ( ! ,MIDDLE-,AGES1 & ! %OV+ \T ( ! PEOPLE FROM ! L&4 ,?IS TRANSITION IS TREAT$ ( BY ,K>L ,M>X ) GREAT C>E & PRECISION UND] ! NAME ( ! ',MANUFACTUR+ ,P]IOD' 7WORK%OP P]IOD WE MI<T CALL IT71 & SOME M5TION ( IT \<T TO HAVE BE5 9CLUD$ 9 ,MR ,SYDNEY ,WEBB'S 'HI/ORY'4 ,I %\LD NOT HAVE FELT B\ND TO CALL ATT5TION TO ?IS BLEMI%1 H[EV]1 IF IT W]E NOT1 TO MY M9D1 ANO!R 9DICATION ( ! WEAK SIDE ( ,MR ,SYDNEY ,WEBB & HIS FOLL[]S2 !IR T5D5CY1 NAMELY1 TO OV]E/IMATE ! IMPORTANCE ( ! ME*ANISM ( A SY/EM ( SOCIETY AP>T FROM ! 5D T[>DS :I* IT MAY BE US$4 

,! GREAT MA*9E 9DU/RIES1 ?\< !Y HAVE PLAY$ AN IMPORTANT P>T 9 ! MOVEM5T T[>D ,SOCIALISM >E NOT AN ESS5TIAL CONDITION ( ITS EXI/5CE2 !Y MAY BE US$1 AS !Y >E N[1 = ! M]E 5SLAVEM5T ( ! WORK]S4 ,!Y WILL BE SO US$ AS LONG AS !Y LA/1 UNLESS ! WORK]S 9 SOME =M OR O!R REVOLT AGA9/ !IR SLAV]Y4 ,ON ! O!R H&1 AS Y\ MAY HAVE A P]FECT$ SY/EM ( COOP]ATIVE PRODUCTION 9 A SOCIETY ( CAPITALISM & WAGE-SLAV]Y1 SO Y\ MAY HAVE ,SOCIALISM OR ,COMMUNISM CONJO9TLY ) A SY/EM ( 7SO-CALL$7 9DIVIDUALI/ PRODUCTION4 ,NAY1 ,I FEEL C]TA9 ?AT :5 ! TIME COMES1 :]E9 WE HAVE =GOTT5 ! P]IOD ( >TIFICIAL POV]TY ?RU/ UPON US BY CAPITALISM & WAGE-SLAV]Y1 ! WORLD WILL 9 A L>GE MEASURE RETURN TO ! 9DIVIDUAL SY/EM :I* ONCE PRODUC$ GOODS2 A WORD :I* \R PRES5T SY/EM HAS DEPRIV$ ( ?REE P>TS ( ITS MEAN+4 ,F\RI] PUT =W>D HIS TRULY 9SPIR$ DOCTR9E ( ATTRACTIVE 9DU/RY TO A WORLD ?AT C\LD NOT LI/5 TO HIM1 SO SUNK5 AS IT WAS 9 MIS]Y & SLAV]Y4 ,9 TIMES TO COME WE %ALL NE$ NO SOCIAL PHILOSOPH] TO TELL US ?AT IF WE CANNOT MAKE \R WORK ATTRACTIVE WE %ALL /ILL BE SLAVES1 EV5 ?\< WE HAVE NO MA/] BUT ,NATURE4 ,BUT TO-DAY ! WORLD IS /ILL SO SUNK5 9 MIS]Y & SLAV]Y1 ?AT 9 ?IS BOOK1 HONE/LY DEVOT$ TO ! REG5]ATION ( SOCIETY1 ! ASSUMPTION IS EV]Y:]E MADE ?AT LABOR MU/ = EV] BE UNATTRACTIVE4 

,IT IS ?R\< NO DISRESPECT TO ! O!R WRIT]S 9 ?IS REM>KABLE BOOK ?AT ,I HAVE GIV5 SO MU* ( MY SPACE TO ! CONSID]ATION ( ,MR ,SYDNEY ,WEBB'S PAP]1 :I* IS RA!R WORSE ?AN BETT] ?AN ! O!RS1 BUT SIMPLY BECAUSE IT %[S MO/ CLE>LY ! PRES5T POSITION ( ! ,FABIAN ,SOCIETY T[>DS ! ,SOCIALI/ MOVEM5T4 

,MR ,CL>KE'S PAP]1 ?\< NOT QUITE AVOID+ ! HI/ORICAL MI/AKE ( ,MR ,SYDNEY ,WEBB1 IS CLE> & WELL WRITT51 & FULL ( V]Y VALUABLE 9=MATION2 ! LATT] PORTION1 DEAL+ ) ! SPECIAL VAG>IES ( ,AM]ICAN 4,COMM]CE'1 WILL S]VE AS A TEXT-BOOK = ! SUBJECT 'UNTIL ! TIMES DO ALT]'4 ,AT ! SAME TIME1 ?\< WE MAY WELL HOPE ?AT ! EXTRAVAGANCE ( EXPLOITATION & CONTEMPT ( ! PUBLIC %[N BY !SE 'CAPTA9S ( 9DU/RY' WILL LEAD US ON T[>D ,SOCIALISM1 IT IS DANG]\S TO RE/ \R HOPES ON ?IS DEVELOPM5T1 AS ,MR ,BELLAMY DOES 9 HIS ',LOOK+ ,BACKW>D'4 ,IT MAY1 AFT] ALL1 BE NO?+ BUT A PASS+ PHASE ( ?AT CAPITALI/ ORGANIZATION ( ROBB]Y1 :I* SURELY MU/ BE ATTACK$ 9 FRONT BY ! WORK]S GR[N CONSCI\S ( !IR SLAV]Y4 

,MR ,SYDNEY ,OLIVI]'S ',MORAL ,BASIS' IS WOR? TAK+ ! TR\BLE ( C>EFUL READ+4 ,IT IS LESS OBVI\S TO ! OBJECTIONS AGA9/ ! ,FABIAN OPPORTUNISM1 P>TLY NO D\BT BECAUSE ( ! SUBJECT1 BUT ALSO P>TLY1 ,I ?9K 7JUDG+ FROM ! PAP]71 BECAUSE ( ! TURN ( M9D ( ! WRIT] HIMSELF4 

,MR ,GRAHAM ,WALLAHS'S ',PROP]TY ,UND] ,SOCIALISM' IS CLE> & FREE FROM P$ANTRY1 & %[S DI/9CT SYMPA?IES ) ,COMMUNISM2 BUT IT IS CONFESS$LY DEAL+ ) ! TRANSITIONAL P]IOD ( ,SOCIAL ,DEMOCRACY1 & CONSEQU5TLY LACKS ! 9T]E/ :I* A PAP] ON MORE DEF9ITE PR9CIPLES W\LD HAVE4 ,!RE IS1 9DE$1 A TONE ( APOLOGY = ! FEEBL5ESS ( ,SOCIAL ,DEMOCRACY RUNN+ ?R\< IT :I* MI<T BE SNE]$ AT BY ! B\RGEOIS4 ,ONE FRI5DLY OBJECTION ,I MAKE TO ,MR ,WALLAHS -- HE ALL[S HIMSELF TO SPEAK ( ,SOCIALISM AS '! SY/EM ( PROP]TY-HOLD+ :I* WE CALL ,SOCIALISM'1 & GOES ON TO SAY ?AT ?IS IS NOT NECESS>ILY ! WI%$-= NEW LIFE1 'ANY MORE ?AN A GOOD SY/EM ( DRA9AGE IS HEAL?1 OR ! 9V5TION ( PR9T+1 KN[L$GE'4 ,H]E IS A NET /ATEM5T ( ! EXAGG]ATION ( ! VALUE ( A ME*ANICAL SY/EM1 :I* ,I HAVE ALREADY COMPLA9$ (4 ,SOCIALISM IS EMPHATICALLY NOT M]ELY 'A SY/EM ( PROP]TY-HOLD+'1 BUT A COMPLETE !ORY ( HUMAN LIFE1 F\ND$ 9DE$ ON ! VISIBLE NECESSITIES ( ANIMAL LIFE1 BUT 9CLUD+ A DI/9CT SY/EM ( RELIGION1 E?ICS1 & CONDUCT1 :I*1 IF PUT 9TO PRACTICE1 WILL NOT 9DE$ 5ABLE US TO GET RID ( ! TRAG$Y ( LIFE AS ,MR ,WALLAHS H9TS1 BUT WILL 5ABLE US TO MEET IT )\T FE> & )\T %AME4 

,MRS ,BESANT'S >TICLE ON ',9DU/RY ,UND] ,SOCIALISM' GIVES A SKET* ( ,/ATE ,SOCIALISM 9 PRACTICE 9 ITS CRUDE/ =M1 :I*1 [+ TO ! DIFFICULTY ( ! SUBJECT RA!R ?AN FROM ANY %ORTCOM+ ON H] P>T1 IS NOT SATISFACTORY1 -- C\LD H>DLY BE SATISFACTORY TO ANY ONE4 

,MR ,HUB]T ,BL&'S PAP]1 ',ON ! ,\TLOOK'1 IS1 = ?IS BOOK1 A CURI\S ONE1 = IT IS A NOT V]Y 9DIRECT ATTACK ON HIS OPTIMI/IC DEMOCRATIC COADJUTORS4 ',IT IS NOT SO MU* TO ! ?+ :I* ! /ATE DOES1 AS TO ! 5D = :I* IT DOES IT'1 IS /AT+ AGA9 :AT ,I HAVE ALREADY PUT =W>D 9 ?IS >TICLE1 & !RE IS A GOOD DEAL 9 ,MR ,BL&'S ',\TLOOK' TO ! SAME PURPORT4 ,= ! RE/1 ,MR ,BL&1 ( C\RSE GOES 9 = ! ,P>LIAM5T>Y /RUGGLE :I* WE DO NOT BELIEVE 92 BUT HE IS TOO ACUTE 7HIS EYE-SI<T BE+ AID$1 ,I JUDGE1 BY SOME TRADITIONAL ,TORY 9/9CTS7 NOT TO SEE ?AT ! P]MEATION ( ! ,RADICALS BY ,SOCIALISM DOES NOT MEAN ! CREATION ( A ,SOCIALI/-,RADICAL ,P>LIAM5T>Y P>TY1 BUT RA!R ! ABSORPTION ( ! 9DIVIDUALS ( ! ,RADICALS1 ON ! ONE H&1 9TO ! DEF9ITE ,SOCIALI/ RANKS1 &1 ON ! O!R1 9TO ! ,:IG PHALANX2 :I* LATT] HE1 V]Y RI<TLY1 LOOKS ON AS A MO/ =MIDABLE & 5DUR+ BODY ( OB/RUCTION1 CAPABLE ( 'HOLD+ ! =T' LONG AFT] ! 9TELLIG5CE ( ! NATION HAS DECL>$ = ,SOCIALISM1 & ( HOLD+ IT 9 ! TEE? ( ! LOGICAL SEQU5CE ( ECONOMICAL EV5TS4 ,SO GOES HI/ORY4 

,I HAVE YET TO M5TION ,MR ,B]N>D ,%AW'S TWO PAP]S4 ,:ATEV] ,I HAVE TO BLAME 9 !M IS COMPRIS$ 9 ! /ATEM5T ( MY DIFF]5CES ) ! ,FABIAN TACTIC :I* IS SO FRANKLY CONDEMN$ BY ,MR ,HUB]T ,BL&4 ,YET1 AT LEA/1 ,MR ,%AW DOES NOT LOVE OPPORTUNISM = ITS [N SWEET SELF2 = 9 HIS SECOND LECTURE HE DEF9ITELY PROCLAIMS HIS %AME ( ! C\RSE TO :I*1 AS HE ?9KS1 CIRCUM/ANCES HAVE DRIV5 HIM2 P]HAPS HE ONLY NE$S A LITTLE EXTRA DOSE ( ,P>LIAM5T>Y TACTICS TO DISGU/ HIM SO MU* AS TO =CE HIM TO DROP !M ALTOGE!R4 ,JUDG+ FROM ! ELOQU5CE ( ! CONCLUD+ P>T ( HIS FIR/ PAP]1 WE CAN H>DLY SUPPOSE ?AT ?AT DISGU/ WILL DRIVE HIM 9TO DESPAIR ( ! :OLE MOVEM5T1 & SO DEPRIVE US ( ! S]VICES ( ONE ( ! CLE>E/ HEADS & BE/ P5S ?AT ,SOCIALISM HAS GOT4 ,AS A=ESAID1 HIS CRITICISM ( ! MOD]N CAPITALI/IC MUDDLE IS SO DAMAG+1 HIS /YLE SO TR5*ANT1 & SO FULL ( RES]VES ( 9DIGNATION & RI<TE\S SCORN1 ?AT ,I SOMETIMES WOND] ?AT GUILTY1 IE41 NON-,SOCIALI/1 MIDDLE-CLASS PEOPLE CAN SIT & LI/5 TO HIM4 ,IF HE C\LD ONLY =GET ! ,SYDNEY-,WEBBIAN P]MEATION TACTIC1 EV5 )\T PUTT+ ANY O!R 9 ITS PLACE1 :AT AN ADVANTAGE IT W\LD BE TO ALL ( US6 ,HE W\LD 5C\RAGE HIS FRI5DS !REBY2 & AS TO HIS 5EMIES -- C\LD HE (F5D !M MORE ?AN HE DOES N[8 

,I HAVE NOT HAD ANY SPACE TO QUOTE PASSAGES FROM ?IS BOOK2 ,I ?\<T ?AT !RE WAS NO NE$ TO DO SO1 AS ,I ASSUME ?AT ALL ,SOCIALI/S WILL READ IT :E!R !Y AGREE ) IT OR NOT4 

#a4 ,FABIAN ,ESSAYS 9 ,SOCIALISM1 #bcc PP1 B\ND 9 CLO? ) DESIGNS BY ,WALT] ,CRANE & ,MAY ,MORRIS4 ,MAY BE ORD]$ FROM ,COMMONWEAL ,(FICE AT #fS4 PO/ FREE4 

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,FEBRU>Y #b#e1 #bba 3 ,FABIAN ,ESSAYS 9 ,SOCIALISM -- ,ADD$4 
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