The Socialism of to-day

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Monograph

Identifikator:: 835096955

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-28834

Document type:: Monograph

Author:: Laveleye, Émile de

Title:: The Socialism of to-day

Place of publication:: London

Publisher:: Field & Tuer

Year of publication:: 1884

Scope:: 1 Online-Ressource (XLIV, 331 S.)

Collection:: Economics Books

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XIV INTRODUCTION. In the debate which took place on the 23rd May, 1878, in the German Parliament, when the Anti-Socialist Bill was introduced by the Imperial Government, Deputy Joerg, one of the most distinguished orators of Catholic Germany, very justly said, “ A movement almost imperceptible at its outset has spread with unprecedented rapidity. This extraordinary development of Socialism can only be accounted for by con sidering it as the consequence of the profound modifications which have taken place in economic and social conditions. Yes, modern civilization has its dark side, and that dark side is Socialism. It will not disappear so long as civilization continues to be what it now is. Socialism is not a plague peculiar to Germany. It has taken up its head-quarters here, and has received in our country its philosophical and scientific education, but it is to be met with everywhere, it is a universal evil.” England alone seemed to be free from it ; but the extra ordinary success which has attended the schemes for the nationalization of the land, and the publications of Mr. Henry George and Mr. A. R. Wallace, prove that this immunity is a thing of the past. What is Socialism ? I have never met with either a clear definition or even precise description of the word. Every one is a Socialist in somebody’s eyes. Since his agrarian legislation for Ireland, Mr. Gladstone is considered by the Irish Con servatives as a Socialist of the worst type. Prince Bismarck, the friend of Lassalle and Schæffle, the author of the terrible proposal for establishing, by means of the tobacco monopoly, a superannuation fund for invalid workmen, can hardly defend himself from the charge of being a Socialist; and, for the matter of that, he readily avows that he is one. The statesmen in France, who recently wished all the railways to be taken up and worked by the State, were assuredly Socialists. Finally, since the famous pamphlets of Bastiat, every out-and-out free trader and every rigid economist is firmly convinced that whoever does not admit the wisdom of full freedom of com merce is infected with Socialism and Communism. Proudhon, far from wishing to strengthen the action of the State, called for its abolition under the name of “ Anarchy.” Was he not.

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