Feb[ruary] 12/[19]01
Dear Sir
I have just finished reading your two volumes of Studies Scientific & Social3 with much pleasure and profit. I have made a number of marginal notes copies of which I should be glad to send if you care to see them.
I was naturally pleased to see your reference to my book4 in the "Morning Leader" early in the year5, and doubt not that it will direct much attention to the subject.
The Tory party is in power, and we are tending to Militarism and Ruin.
The Liberals are without any [2] a policy or election cry, and seem afraid to take up any question of real interest and use to the people, but until this is done no progressive party can get into power.
I am trying to get the Social Democrats and the Independent Labour Party to join with the advanced Radicals, agree upon a policy & fight for it at the next election which cannot be far off,
I suggest "The Housing of the People, The Education and maintenance of the Children, & the provision of Pensions & homes for the aged [3] worker of all classes."6
The adoption of these would compel the nationalization of the land & other important measures[?] also, but I look upon these as a means to an end & the Education, Maintenance, Housing & Pensionry[?] of the People being the end itself.
Can you help in any way?, with such a programme I think we could win. We should want to send at least 10 good stalwart men to Parliament, and I have already had offers of nearly £1000 towards a fund for the purpose.
I am arranging to publish a cheap edition of 'How it can be done for propaganda purposes7. The first 7chap[ter]s & two others as suggested by you[.] [4] It will be published simultaneously in London, Glasgow, New York, Chicago, Australia, New Zealand & South Africa for edition of 25,000 & more as req'[uire]d for stereotyped plates[.]
If you would be kind enough to write a "Forward" or Preface for it I should be obliged, and I am sure it materially add to its sale and influence.
I am leaving for Brighton on Thursday morning and should be pleased to have your reply addressed to me
"Belevedere Mansions Hotel
Kings Road
Brighton
where I shall be till about the end of the month[.]
Meantime I remain | Yours very truly | John Richardson [signature]
Prof Russell Wallace8
This is a reference to a letter from ARW to the Editor of the Morning Leader (London), responding to a general enquiry regarding the turn of the century and printed on page 3 of the 2 January 1901 issue:
".......... Except in a few externals there has been no real improvement in the condition of the workers as a whole, while the many thousands engaged in unhealthy occupations are worse off than ever before. So long as a single willing worker suffers want, or has his life shortened by preventable causes, we cannot truly claim to be a civilised people.
It is therefore to be hoped that the new century will inaugurate an era of social advance for the whole of our people, and that for this end it will adopt as its guide that fundamental principle of social justice expressed by the term—equality of opportunity. The best and most practicable method of immediately applying this principle is clearly set forth in Mr. John Richardson's admirable little book "How it can be Done." He shows that, with no permanent cost to the community, the whole of our children may receive the best possible education and nurture, and thus become fitted to inaugurate the great work of social regeneration."
Status: Draft transcription [Letter (WCP2144.2034)]
For more information about the transcriptions and metadata, see https://wallaceletters.myspecies.info/content/epsilon
Please cite as “WCP2144,” in Beccaloni, G. W. (ed.), Ɛpsilon: The Alfred Russel Wallace Collection accessed on 28 April 2024, https://epsilon.ac.uk/view/wallace/letters/WCP2144