In order to concede a wholly imaginary and quite impossible Equality, Socialism must make devastating inroads upon personal Liberty. "Equal — but slaves" would be an infinitely more distasteful condition than that of being "Free, if Unequal." Equality, however, is impossible of attainment. As President Butler of Columbia University writes:
"Nature knows no such thing as Equality. . . . Destroy inequality of talent and capacity, and life, as we know it, stops. . . . The corner-stone of Democracy is natural inequality; its ideal the selection of the most fit. Liberty is far more precious than Equality, and the two are mutually destructive."
Was Equality, as Socialists allege, the rule of society in primitive times? Unquestionably No. Such an idea was too transparently false to be even put forward. Each tribe existed surrounded by enemies. Persons, therefore, of necessity grouped themselves for defence and attack round the strongest and the most intelligent.
In advocating equality of condition the Socialist has recourse to the history of a past which never in fact existed. The main ideas are for the most part borrowed from Rousseau.
"All men are equal by nature and before the law."
"Nothing," rightly observes M. Emile Faguet, "is more false than the first portion of this formula." If under Socialism Equality is to be maintained, individuality must necessarily be ruthlessly suppressed.
As the late poet laureate wrote:—
"Envy wears the mask of love, and, laughing sober fact to scorn,
Cries to weakest as to strongest,' Ye are equals, equal-born.'
Equal-born? Oh yes, if yonder hill be level with the flat.
Charm us, Orator, till the Lion look no larger than the Cat.
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