Socialism Means the Abolition of Family Life

London: Liberty and Property Defence League, [ca. 1901-05]. First Edition.

Unbound pamphlet, 8 x 5 1/4 inches (205 x 132 mm), [4] pages.

A wonderfully lurid warning against socialism by a British organization devoted to laissez-faire economics. The anonymous author suggests that socialism would lead to the breakup of families.

"There would be no such place as home under socialism," the author writes. "Everyone would live in the State barracks. There would be no breakfasts, dinners, or teas with one's family at one's own table, as, in the first place, meals in private would not be permitted, as it would be against the socialist idea of equality...In other words, everybody, when hungry, would be reduced to the necessity of repairing to the common swine-trough and eating the hogwash the State had placed therein. No roast beef, turkey, and plum pudding, no smiling faces of children and friends around the table on Christmas Day. Indeed, there would not be any Christmas Day under socialism."

This pamphlet carries no publication date but it appears to have been issued sometime between 1901 and 1905. It refers to "the late Mr. Oscar Wilde," who died in late 1900. In 1906, the Liberty and Property Defence League issued a book, "Socialism: Its Fallacies and Dangers," which included the text of this pamphlet.

OCLC lists 7 institutional holdings: Syracuse, Stanford, Amherst, Harvard, Michigan, Texas, and Wisconsin Historical Society. No other copies in commerce. SCARCE.

CONDITION: Paper lightly toned, old stab holes along the gutter, a couple small closed tears, small ink stamp at the end of the text, general handling wear. A Very Good copy of an uncommon publication.