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OCIALISM is a live political factor in Europe. There is a wave of socialism flowing over the whole Continent, reaching heights of much importance in Germany, ea. and France, and giving a distinct trend to political life in Austria and Italy.

It is of great importance to us because of the vital effect which the success of the socialist parties would have on European institutions and upon the social and industrial conditions there. Of even wider importance, however, is this great political and social movement, because it foreshadows a tendency which we are likely to see gain great force in our own country. It seems to me not improbable that we shall, in the next few years, hear much of socialism in our own political life. I do not think it will be surprising if we eventually find political forces here drawn up on a new alignment, with a party standing on a platform which might be made up from principles taken from the programmes of socialist parties of Europe, and opposed to those who will stand for conservatism and the permanance of present institutions and conditions.

What a socialist party they would make! The discontented would find promise in such a platform. The believers in the power of legislation to work miracles in bringing prosperity and bettering social conditions would find plans for legislative experiments which would interest them. Those who see danger in aggregated wealth, the opponents of trusts and combinations, the populists, would all find such a party congenial. The advocates of Federal control of railways Rh