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they will be spoken of with respect as successful men； and probably in the end receive or purchase titles。
Now in the conditions of a simple pastoral life dishonesty； even if innate； could scarcely bring such rich rewards。
Apply the argument to the various classes of mankind and I think we have one of the causes of the popularity of the town。
Another is； of course； that there women can show themselves off； their jewels and dresses； if rich； or if poor； can have the advantages of cheap amusements。 In most people the love of Nature scarcely exists； it seems to be the privilege of the highly educated。 But niy…eight out of a hundred love a gas…lamp。
Speaking generally； this seems to be the state of affairs among all the more progressive of the white peoples。 I hear that even the Boers of whom you speak are in a good many instances beginning to be affected by this kind of tidal movement towards the town。 How will it end？ That is the interesting point。 My opinion is that in the absence of some unforeseen and unexpected turn of this tide it will involve the practical destruction of the white peoples； and that within a measurable time； say； two or three centuries。 Except in the case of those of a lower stratum whose progeny soon die out or bee degenerate； the town women do not have many children； in fact there seems to be a rebellion against this burden amongst most married women。 Also the increase of luxury and the cost of living all tend towards the same end。 Only on the land are children wele； that is if this land is owned by their parents； who find their labour valuable。 Look at France。 Were it not for the support of England； Germany would soon have her in its bag。 But the same causes that are reducing France to a state of political death are； I am told； beginning to work at the heart of her enemies； the Germans。 Look at Australia。 If there were no British fleet how long would it be before it received a considerable number of immigrants of the Mongol type？ And so on。
But all these arguments are monplace to you。 The question is； Whither do they lead； supposing them to be accurate？
I think； to two alternative conclusions。 The first alternative is that the Almighty has had enough of the white races and is bringing about their ruin through their own failings as in past days He brought about the ruin of Rome； purposing once more to fill their places from the East。 The second alternative is that He is pointing out to them that their only possible rejuvenation； their only salvation lies in the closer settlement of the land which they neglect。
Denmark has learned something of this lesson； and that is why to me its example seems so important。 Personally also I believe it to be the first of truths； and that is why I try to preach it in and out of season。 But the sporting owner and the tenant farmers of the country； both of which classes find things very well as they are； do not share my views； and say so with vigour。 The future will show which of us is in the right。
。 。 。 I quite agree with all that you say at the end of your letter； indeed I think that these are fine words。 All that one can do is to peg away and not be discouraged。 Then at least one has done one’s humble best in the little hour that is granted； leaving the ultimate issues in the hands of Fate and the future。 If no one will listen； if the opposing interests are too strong； at least one has cried aloud in the wilderness and done one’s best。
With very kind regards；
Believe me；
Ever sincerely yours；
H。 Rider Haggard。
About a year later I wrote a note to Mr。 Roosevelt； saying that of course American politics were no affair of mine； and that I would not venture to say anything about them。 Still； as I believed that his heart was in the right place； I wished him success in his arduous struggle。
To this note I received the following reply； which strikes me as of extraordinary interest。 The opening of it； of which the note is “misunderstood；” is somewhat pathetic； the writer’s conviction as to the approaching “general smash…up of our civilisation” unless certain conditions can be put a stop to is of much weight ing from such a man； and the conclusion throws a light upon his character which would astonish many even in this country。
Office of Theodore Roosevelt；
The Outlook； 287 Fourth Avenue；
New York： June 28； 1912。
Dear Mr。 Haggard； — I have but a moment in which to answer your wele letter； as I am driven almost to death。 There are but a limited number of my own countrymen； among those of the highest education； who understand as you do just what I am striving for。 I suppose that as we grow older we naturally lose the natural feeling of young men to take an interest in politics just for the sake of strife — the same kind of interest one takes in big game hunting or football； the kind of interest quite patible with doing excellent work but which cannot inspire the highest kind of work。 As we get older； if we think seriously at all； and if we escape falling into a permanent Palmerstonian jauntiness of attitude； we cannot avoid being deeply and indeed painfully impressed with the tremendous problems of our social and industrial life。 To me politics and applied ethics ought to be interchangeable terms； and my interest in the former arises chiefly from my interest in the latter。 If the whole game is one of mere sound and fury； without any sincerity back of it； any real purpose of achievement； then it is all of as little importance as a contest between the blues and the greens in the Byzantine circus。 I am； I hope and believe； a practical man； and I abhor mere sentimentality； but I abhor at least as much the kind of so…called practical man who uses the word “practical” to indicate mere materialistic baseness； and who fails to see that while we of course must have a material and economic foundation for every successful civilisation； yet that fabric cannot be lasting unless a warp of lofty disinterestedness and power of munity feeling is shot through the woof of individualistic materialism。 Have you ever read “No。 5 John Street”？ I happened to be reading it the other day。 Now I know I cannot ever achieve more than the very smallest part of what I would like to do； but at least I wish to take part in a movement for using the government so far as may be to put a stop to the dreadful conditions at both ends of the social scale which are described in “No。 5 John Street。” In the same way； I wish to get the government interested in conservation； and in restoring the people to the land。 I do not know whether we will be able to succeed in the great movement for social and industrial reform； which includes all such movements as the two I have mentioned； but I do know that the alternative is a general smash…up of our civilisation； and succeed or fail； I hold it to be the duty of every decent man to fight to avoid such a smash。
I hope you e to Canada and then I shall see you here and have a chance of talking over some of these matters； which are of such vital importance； and which the average man treats as of no importance whatever。
As for my personal fortunes； they are of no consequence whatever； except in so far as they are for the moment connected with this movement。 The great bulk of my wealthy and educated friends regard me as a dangerous crank because I am trying to find a remedy for evils which if left unremedied will in the end do away not only with wealth and education； but with pretty much all of our civilisation。 The majority of people veer one way or the other according to whether at the moment I seem to succeed or fail； and are quite incapable of believing that I am concerned with anything but my own success or failure。 But all this is of little permanent consequence。 It is a fight that must be made； and is worth making； and the event lies on the knees of the gods。
Faithfully yours；
Theodore Roosevelt。
To this letter I answered：
Ditchingham House； Norfolk：
July 14； 1912。
My dear Mr。 Roosevelt； — I thank you for your letter。 。 。 。 I too hold that the civilised world wallows in a slough worse； perhaps； than the primeval mud of the savage； that is is possible （if not probable） that it may be dragged from that slough； cleansed and clothed in white garments。 T