Socialism and Catholicism. From the Italian of Count
Edward Soderini. Longmans.
Lixe many of the books issued by our opponents, this is
useful and iostructive, he were Se
firm a possession" as Cardinal Vaughan says pre-
face, “ the social question bas taken of the public mind,”
and he ad L future of the world depends on its
x and Catholicism" is ostensibly a com-
mentary on the Encyclical Rers=l Neversel; in reality, a
treatise on economics from an individualist stand-point.
with the Peasants’ War of 1521, the autbor
os account of the various Socialist bodies and
aders that have arisen from time to time, but a large
of his work is devoted to modern German Social-
and the teaching of Engels, Marx, and Lassalle.
It was to be expected that capitalism and individaal
ownership of land should be justified both
and morally, ‘According to Soderial the capil and
landlord are patriarchal individuals, posressed of, if not
exactly an enthusiasm for bomanity, at any rate of
Seat coat of tok fallacies, the leading
arx sundry one
being that of “ confusing capital with money." Socialis!s
are confounded with N and Anarchists, bot “ there
abides between democracy and Socialism an abyss.”
“ Socialism would have equality in violence and bondage.”
“ Anarchy is the prime instrament of Socialism—its vao-—
guard, which completes, by terrorising society, the
whole work of destruction yearned for FA Socialism:"
“Anarchy descends in line direct from » only
being more logical than their masters, they bave gone
farther.” The author asserts that Socialists ignore mental
work, and prefer not to enquire into facte,
The book abounds with laborious and elaborate
endeavours to demonstrate that Socialism is no cure for the
t unsatisfactory conditions, economic and social,
which we suffer; and which conditions, are admitted
to be often croel and oppressive. “ Ca bas become
beatbenishly inhuman," even “ red: workers here and
there (!) to a online jenny Se and the
author considers the who bis land unculti-
vated ® geiy of 20 injury which be is ee
good to society. ec acknowledges indirectly benefits
might result, could the dreams of Socialists be realised ;
bears testimony to the huge sale of Socialist literature,
and camments on the “periect organisation and dis.