A SKETCH OF SOCIALIST/ C THOUGHT IN ENGLAND 651
influence was also valuable because in contrast with Herbert Spencer his individualism weakened with maturity. 1
Ilia. The beginning of the sixties was marked by the revela- tions of Darwin, Wallace, and Spencer in the field of biology, later to enormously influence sociological thought.
In 1864 the great cooperative movement began to attract attention and illustrate the progress of democracy by the organi- zation of the Wholesale Society, coordinating and consolidating the distributive societies all over England. In 1867 another great step in parliamentary reform strengthened the power of the growing spirit of democracy.
IIU. 1864-1880. The giants in this period are T. H. Green, Ruskin, and Spencer. The greatest philosophic mind of the century was doubtless that of Thomas Hill Green. He deep- ened ethical and political philosophy while he at the same time made their application practicable by bringing them into confor- mity with the laws of evolution. A mere hint at a few of the sub- jects he has treated with the unrivaled skill not merely of the greatest English philosopher of the nineteenth century, but of an experienced politician, will suffice to show the necessity of exam- ining his influence on contemporary political philosophy ; thus : the relation of the individual to the state, the liberty of the individ- ual, natural rights, the spontaneity of social interests, freedom of contract, rationale of property, land monopoly.
Green's advance on Mill's doctrine of liberty may illustrate the position of progressive thought in this period as compared with the former one.
The freedom to do as they like on the part of one set of men may involve the ultimate disqualification of many others, or of a succeeding generation, for the exercise of rights. This applies most obviously to such kinds of con- tract or traffic as affect the health and housing of the people, the growth of population relatively to the means of subsistence, and the accumulation or distribution of landed property. In the hurry of removing those restraints on
1 References. MILL, Dissertations and Discussions, 4 vols., London, 1859-75; Political Economy, successive editions. Autobiography, London, 1873. Socialism New York, 1891. COURTNEY, \v I . / lf , of J. S. Mill, 1886. WATSON, Comte, Mill and Sptn
