subjects, the husband on occasion assisting as counsel. But his time was fully occupied with his literary work and as Corresponding Secretary of the National Arbitration League and also of the Indian Defence Association and as President of the Eclectic Medical Society of the District of Columbia. During his residence in Washington Dr. Bland edited for ten years the Council Fire; for one year the True Commonwealth. In 1879 Dr. Bland's Life of General Butler was issued by Lee & Shepard of Boston. In 1880 appeared his Reign of Monopoly; in 1881 How to Grow Rich, an anti-monopoly brochure; in 1882 the Life of A. B. Meacham; in 1892 Esau, a political novel, and in 1894 his medical work was issued.

'As a reformer the work of Dr. Bland has been large, wise and helpful. Large, in that it has not been limited to any specialty; his wide vision has looked upon the whole field of the needs and sufferings of a world. Wise, because his judgment has been that of a wellbalanced mind. Helpful, because his sym

pathies have been with the sufferers; he has not stood apart from one of them, and talked at them, but has been as one with them who has known hard work; what it is to sweat in the field, and live in a cabin, and all his life to be comparatively poor.

"Looking at this life we can but be impressed with its noble and heroic qualities; its Quakerlike simplicity, purity and integrity; and its moral heroism. And it is beautiful, divine, to see this husband and wife, who have so long been one in thought and work, growing old in a love that is deeper, diviner, than was possible in the long ago, when together they essayed the task and journey of earth and time; beautiful as they so joyfully toil on in the brighter hope of the blessed forever."

We can heartily recommend this work for general readers and especially for young people. It is so interesting that any child will enjoy it, while it cannot fail to prove a powerful moral stimulant, giving an upward impulse to life's dreams and ideals.

AYNARD BUTLER'S

IMPORTANT

MACONTRIBUTION: This month THE

ARENA presents the first of a series of papers from the pen of MAYNARD BUTLER, an exceptionally gifted writer, who has for years been a resident of Berlin and has enjoyed exceptional advantages for obtaining an absolutely accurate knowledge of subjects relating to the educational, political and economic conditions in the German Empire. This writer is a contributor to The Contemporary Review, The Fornightly Review, The Windsor Magazine, The St. James Gazette of London and other leading English periodicals, and has also written for a number of leading American journals, serving as special correspondent for The Outlook in Moscow at the coronation of the present Czarussia in 1896, and serving in the same capacity for the same paper during the ceremonies in London of the Anniversary of the Sixtieth Year of the Reign of Queen Victoria in 1897. Two scholarly books have been published from the pen of this writer, for one of which the Master of Trinity, Cambridge University, England, wrote the introduction. This volume is entitled The First Year of Responsibility and has passed into its third edition. In this opening paper our readers will find a brilliant and illuminating pen-picture of educational conditions in the German Empire at the present time.

The Costliness of War: No abler or more convincing essay has appeared in years in answer to the shallow, superficial and sophistical claim that war is other than demoralizing and degenerating

to the individual and state, as well as exhausting to national resources, than this masterly and unanswerable presentation of The Costliness of War, in which the author shows, first, the vast and staggering cost from a purely material view-point, found in the direct expenditures, indirect expenditures such as destruction and depreciation of property, labor value wasted, damage to trade, displacement of capital; and subsequent expenses, such as compensation for property destroyed, pensions and relief of distressed and interest on debt incurred; secondly, the deterioration of population; and thirdly, the moral damage and effects on the vanquished.

An Object-Lesson in the Solution of Race Problems: The author of this paper has spent much time in Jamaica, making an intimate study of the race problem under the British flag and under conditions where the black man constitutes the principal population. His sketch of Jamaica and the political, economic and social conditions that obtain there is extremely interesting and helpfully suggestive.

The Resumption of Mr. Mills' Papers: We are glad to be able this month to resume the invaluable series of powerful historical contributions written by the Hon. J. WARNER MILLS on The Economic Struggle in Colorado. In this paper Mr. MILLS deals with the Eight-Hour Struggle and Preliminary Strikes. The contribution is a valuable addition to the economic historical literature of the hour and is the ablest survey of the struggle that has been presented by one in sympathy with the people

and who is great enough to be just to the toilers in their battle with the great corporations that have for years dominated and corrupted the government of Colorado.

Heresy in the Episcopal Church: In this issue of THE ARENA a prominent scholar in the Episcopal Church, writing under a nom de plume, discusses the present renaissance of the old-time dogmatic spirit, which has darkened history in the past and which has proved one of the most paralyzing influences to true religion which has dogged the slow advance of man. This paper complements admirably the thoughtful contribution of KATRINA TRASK, which was a feature of our August issue. We expect shortly to publish some views on the other side of the case, so as to give our readers a full-orbed view of the present warfare between a rational liberal theology and adherents to the demands of the letter.

The Anglo-Saxon Crime: We have received many strong words of praise for the position taken by THE ARENA in regard to arrogant usurpation of extra-constitutional power on the part of the courts in the interests of the feudalism of wealtha usurpation strikingly analogous to that exercised by the judiciary under the STUARTS and which is defended by arguments similar to those which were used in justification of the unjust and despotic rulings which played so large a part in driving the people into rebellion during the reign of CHARLES I. and which later led to the overthrow of JAMES II. The only way the court can be kept pure and worthy of the respect and reverence of the people is to subject any manifestly unjust or despotic act of men, who from time to time have unfortunately reached the bench, to intelligent, discriminating and fearless criticism. To discredit honest or just criticism would be to encourage the return of the tyranny and despotism of the Star Chamber and to foster the spirit of JEFFREYS.

One correspondent writes: "Nothing that President ROOSEVELT has said or done so merits the praise of thoughtful citizens as his fearless criticism of Judge HUMPHREY, the protector of the criminal Beef-Trust."

In this issue of THE ARENA the able legal authority and lawyer, the Hon. THOMAS SPEED MOSBY, Pardon Attorney of Missouri, presents a deeply thoughtful paper on the unjust and dangerous power arrogated by the judiciary. Every thoughtful American should carefully peruse this suggestive contribution.

Professor Noa's Pen-Picture of Another South American Civilization Way-Shower: This month we continue the valuable series of thoughtful papers on great historical characters of South America, prepared expressly for this magazine by Professor FREDERIC M. NOA. SARMIENTO was one of the civilization way-showers who gave a wonderful upward impulse to the national and individual life of his people. This paper will be followed by a finely illustrated contribution dealing with Mr. WILLIAM WHEELWRIGHT, the Massachusetts boy, who more than any other single individual developed the commercial and business activities of South America.

Individualism Through Socialism: A Reply to the Hon. William J. Bryan: The paper, by THOMAS ELMER WILL, A.M., in this issue of THE ARENA

will doubtless attract general attention. It is written in the broad and fine spirit that characterizes the high-minded philosophical thinker. It is the best discussion of the questions raised and argued by Mr. BRYAN in his book and also in The Century article, which we have seen. Professor WILL is a Harvard man, holding the degree of Master of Arts from that institution. He is one of the broadminded, social thinkers of our land and day. For years he held chairs in well-known colleges. He also was for sometime President of the State Agricultural College of Kansas, serving with conspicuous ability. At present he is engaged in important government work in the Department of Agriculture at Washington.

Jean Jaurès' Vision of the Social State: Our book-study, or extended review, this month is devoted to the exposition of Socialism as recently given to the world in book form by the greatest living opportunist Socialist, JEAN JAURES, a statesman of the first order, who is at once the leading orator of France and one of the greatest practical idealists of modern political life.

Socialism and the Liquor Traffic: In this issue we publish the third paper in our series of contributions on the liquor problem. Mr. HENDRICKSON, the State Committeeman for the Prohibition Party of Maryland, has discussed the question from the view-point of the Prohibitionists; Mr. RAPPAPORT has presented the claims of the advocates of high license; while Mr. WATTS this month thoughtfully outlines the methods by which Socialism would deal with the question.

A King and a Fool: Our readers will derive great pleasure from the exceptionally happy and suggestive story which we publish this month from the pen of Mr. CHARLES TOWNSEND, entitled A King and a Fool. The author explains that he has no particular parties in mind, but no one can read the story without being impressed with the importance of the lessons which are conveyed in this allegorical form and which are peculiarly impressive at the present time.

Dr. Petersen's Paper: We very much regret that the length of Mr. MILLS' able paper on the Colorado situation renders it necessary for us to carry over Dr. PETERSEN's scholarly contribution entitled Unrecognized Insanity: A Public and Individual Danger.

Allan L. Benson in THE ARENA: Among the most incisive, interesting and fundamentally sound magazine essayists and daily journalistic writers in this country is ALLAN L. BENSON, whose strong leaders in the Detroit Daily Times are making that paper a power in Michigan. Mr. BENSON is a valued contributor to THE ARENA, Appleton's Magazine, and other leading original magazines and reviews of opinion; and it is with pleasure that we announce that we have made arrangements by which Mr. BENSON will contribute regularly signed editorials to our Mirror of the Present" department. His writings will be an important feature of THE ARENA for the ensuing year, a real aid to the people's case in the great battle for fundamental justice and democratic advance which THE ARENA is aggressively waging against the criminal rich or the trinity of the pit-the corrupt corporations, the political boss and the money-controlled machine.

VOL. 36

RICHARD

I. MORAL IDEALISM THE SOUL OF CIVILIZATION.

As

S THE years pass and civilization rises to nobler altitudes, the world comes more and more to cherish, revere and honor the men who have yielded to the compulsion of moral idealism, daring to do great things for the happiness, development and elevation of others and the exaltation of society. Even now, in the perspective of history, we see paralleling the steady sinking to oblivion of the great egoists who once held a large place on the stage of life but who were dominated by selfish impulses, a corresponding rise of the idealists to the peerage of earth's immortals. Do you question this? Then sweep the vista of history, separating the men who lived for self, who placed ambition or avarice, the lust for power, the lust for glory, the lust of the flesh or the lust for gold above interest in and consideration for the rights of others, from those who were faithful to the higher vision, who yielded to the compulsion of truth, of duty, of justice and of right-men, in a word, who, reck

less of self, consecrated life's richest gifts to noble ends, and you will see that only in proportion as men lived for others and were willing to sink self before the larger demands of humanity have they remained potent forces in the world and dwelt in the heart and the affection of the ages.

Athens was thronged with men of wealth, position and power when Socrates was forced to drink the hemlock; yet while Socrates' thought, life, death and the influence he wielded over the brains of Plato and other of his disciples have proved a perpetual wellspring of moral life and inspiration for twenty-five hundred years, his judges, the civic leaders and men of wealth, power and station of his age, have long since been forgotten, or if remembered they exert no influence on men or nations.

The high priest and the arrogant members of the Sanhedrim, before whom the influential men of Judea bowed with deepest reverence while drawing their mantles closer around them when Jesus and His motley band of fishermen and peasants passed, are forgotten, or only remembered by virtue of the evil part they