practical acquaintance with explosives; but we thought that the
statement about gunpowder and feudalism was historically true, and
that it would do the capitalists good to remind them of it. Suddenly,
however, the Federation made a very startling practical application
of the Class War doctrine. They did not blow anybody up; but in the
general election of 1885 they ran two candidates in London--Mr.
Williams, in Hampstead, who got 27 votes, and Mr. Fielding, in
Kennington, who got 32 votes. And they made no secret of the fact
that the expenses of these elections had been paid by one of the
established political parties in order to split the vote of the
other. From the point of view of the abstract moralist there was
nothing to be said against the transaction; since it was evident that
Socialist statesmanship must for a long time to come consist largely
of taking advantage of the party dissensions between the
Unsocialists. It may easily happen to-morrow that the Liberal party
may offer to contribute to the expenses of a Fabian candidate in a
hopelessly Tory stronghold, in order to substantiate its pretensions
to encourage Labour representation. Under such circumstances it is
quite possible that we may say to the Fabian in question, Accept by
all means; and deliver propagandist addresses all over the place.
Suppose that the Liberal party offers to bear part of Mr. Sidney
Webb's expenses at the forthcoming County Council election at
Deptford, as they undoubtedly will, by means of the usual National
Liberal Club subscription, in the case of the poorer Labour
candidates. Mr. Webb, as a matter of personal preference for an
independence which he is fortunately able to afford, will refuse. But
suppose Mr. Webb were not in that fortunate position, as some Labour
candidates will not be! It is quite certain that not the smallest
odium would attach to the acceptance of a Liberal grant-in-aid. Now
the idea that taking Tory money is worse than taking Liberal money is
clearly a Liberal party idea and not a Social-Democratic one. In 1885
there was not the slightest excuse for regarding the Tory party as
any more hostile to Socialism than the Liberal party; and Mr.
Hyndman's classical quotation, _'Non olet'_--'It does not smell,'
meaning that there is no difference in the flavour of Tory and Whig
gold once it comes into the Socialist