Britain for the British   By: Robert Blatchford (1851-1943)

BY

ROBERT BLATCHFORD EDITOR OF THE CLARION

[Illustration: Logo]

LONDON CLARION PRESS, 72 FLEET STREET, E. C.

CHICAGO CHARLES H. KERR & COMPANY 56 FIFTH AVENUE

Copyright, 1902, BY CHARLES H. KERR & COMPANY.

Printed in the United States.

DEDICATED TO A. M. THOMPSON

AND THE CLARION FELLOWSHIP

CONTENTS

CHAP. PAGE

THE TITLE, PURPOSE, AND METHOD OF THIS BOOK 1

FOREWORDS 6

I. THE UNEQUAL DIVISION OF WEALTH 10

II. WHAT IS WEALTH? WHERE DOES IT COME FROM? WHO CREATES IT? 26

III. HOW THE FEW GET RICH AND KEEP THE MANY POOR 33

IV. THE BRAIN WORKER, OR INVENTOR 45

V. THE LANDLORD'S RIGHTS AND THE PEOPLE'S RIGHTS 51

VI. LUXURY AND THE GREAT USEFUL EMPLOYMENT FRAUD 63

VII. WHAT SOCIALISM IS NOT 74

VIII. WHAT SOCIALISM IS 82

IX. COMPETITION v. CO OPERATION 90

X. FOREIGN TRADE AND FOREIGN FOOD 97

XI. HOW TO KEEP FOREIGN TRADE 102

XII. CAN BRITAIN FEED HERSELF? 110

XIII. THE SUCCESSFUL MAN 119

XIV. TEMPERANCE AND THRIFT 127

XV. THE SURPLUS LABOUR MISTAKE 135

XVI. IS SOCIALISM POSSIBLE, AND WILL IT PAY? 141

XVII. THE NEED FOR A LABOUR PARTY 148

XVIII. WHY THE OLD PARTIES WILL NOT DO 156

XIX. TO DAY'S WORK 166

WHAT TO READ 174

THE TITLE OF THIS BOOK

The motto of this book is expressed in its title: BRITAIN FOR THE BRITISH.

At present Britain does not belong to the British: it belongs to a few of the British, who employ the bulk of the population as servants or as workers.

It is because Britain does not belong to the British that a few are very rich and the many are very poor.

It is because Britain does not belong to the British that we find amongst the owning class a state of useless luxury and pernicious idleness, and amongst the working classes a state of drudging toil, of wearing poverty and anxious care.

This state of affairs is contrary to Christianity, is contrary to justice, and contrary to reason. It is bad for the rich, it is bad for the poor; it is against the best interests of the British nation and the human race.

The remedy for this evil state of things the only remedy yet suggested is Socialism . And Socialism is broadly expressed in the title and motto of this book: BRITAIN FOR THE BRITISH.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS BOOK

The purpose of this book is to convert the reader to Socialism : to convince him that the present system political, industrial, and social is bad; to explain to him why it is bad, and to prove to him that Socialism is the only true remedy.

FOR WHOM THIS BOOK IS INTENDED

This book is intended for any person who does not understand, or has, so far, refused to accept the principles of Socialism .

But it is especially addressed, as my previous book, Merrie England , was addressed, to JOHN SMITH, a typical British working man, not yet converted to Socialism .