SOCIAL INNOVATORS

AND

THEIR SCHEMES.

BY WILLIAM LUCAS SARGANT,

AUTHOR OF "THE SCIENCE OF SOCIAL OPULENCE," ETC.

LONDON:

SMITH, ELDER AND CO., 65, CORNHILL.

1858.

PREFACE.

THE present generation is distinguished by an honourable desire to promote the well-being of the most numerous, and least fortunate, classes of society. If there is a certain amount of trading philanthropy mixed up with the genuine sentiment, that is only the "tribute which vice pays to virtue." We may say of such hypocrisy, as Pope said of another base passion:

"Envy will merit like its shade pursue,

But like the shadow, proves its substance true."

But this feeling of kind consideration for our fellows, is in some danger of leading men into errors. Young men, in particular, struck with some examples of hardship or injustice; deeply wounded by the spectacle of retiring merit overshadowed, or of poverty trampled upon by the insolent rich; seeing brawny arms without work, and innocent children wanting their daily bread; rush over-hastily to the conclusion, that a social organization which permits such evils, is unworthy to be