WCP7031

[1]

Parkstone, Dorset

Decr 24th 1898

Mousr A. de Potter

Thank you for sending me your article of my Address to the spiritualists, and for the favourable remarks you make upon it. The new book I refer to is my entitled — "The Wonderful Century". I send you a copy of my address as printed for general circulation. I think there is one mistranslation. The term — "equality of oppurtunity" is not the equivlanet of "égalité proportionnelle". It means — equality of the means of earning a livelihood, — that is, equality in education and training, and in the possession of some capital or income on arriving at manhood — What you [2] term the "dot". Of course that includes equal rights of the use of the earth.

I send you also a book which contains some of the best ideas and ideals of modern English Socialists. The first article — by myself — gives my views on the best immediate & practical applications of the cooperative principles in solving the provlem of "the unemployed" — while it gives incidentally many facts and considerations favourable to Socialism.

In the appendice to my new book — The Wonderful Century — I give my proposals for the taxation of inherited property, which suite [3] agree with your proposals. The utilisation fo all inheritance by the State, for the equal benefit of all, is the ultimate ideal of perfect Social Justice; to be attained^perahps in the distant future; — but I am myself inclined to think that things are now so bad that when the change comes it may be fundamental & revolutionary.

With my best wishes, I am,

Yours very faithfully

[signature] Alfred R. Wallace