The Socialism of to-day

Bibliographic data

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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158 THE SOCIALISM OF TO-DAY. the labour question; they would thus have more chance of escaping repression and of attaining some practical results. After much discussion, it was decided that “social emancipa tion was inseparable from political emancipation ; ” and they accordingly sent delegates to the Congress of Peace and Liberty, which was at that moment sitting at Geneva. The old revolutionary spirit, which believes that everything can be settled by a few bold strokes, and which has no idea of the difficulties presented by social questions, predominated at this congress. These old-fashioned Jacobins let loose the storms, provoke reactions, and thus retard the economic progress, that is to say, the improvement of the lot of the greatest number, which is the important thing to attain. The rapid extension of the International in France alarmed the Imperial Government, and prosecutions were commenced. In March, 1868, a certain number of the leaders were con demned, but only to a fine of one hundred francs, for the offence of having joined, not a secret, but an unauthorized society. The speech of the public prosecutor was full of indulgence and even sympathy ; for the Imperial Government still hoped to rally the working men to its side. The only effect of this appearance of repression was to attract attention to the International and to make it more popular. “ Govern ment persecution," said the Council-General a short time after wards, “ far from killing the International, has given it a new impetus, by putting an end to the unwholesome coquetting of the empire with the working class." In Germany, too, the Association made rapid progress at this period. A great many trades unions (Gewerk-Vereine) were established there. In the month of August an assembly of the representatives of one hundred and twenty working men’s societies took place at Nuremberg, and they decided to affiliate themselves to the International. It also penetrated into Spain. In Switzerland its popularity spread widely, because it had enabled some bricklayers at Geneva to obtain increased wages. The third congress met at Brussels, at the Circus Theatre, from the 5th to the nth of September, 1868. Ninety-eight dele gates represented England, France, Germany, Belgium, Italy,

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