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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2i6 THE SOCIALISM OF TO-DAY. of the insurgent Cantonalists. In Germany there have been repeated attempts at regicide ; finally, in Russia, where all freedom is suppressed, there have been unheard-of crimes and a situation worse than a revolution, for it is Society itself that is in a state of siege. In every country there exist two parties : that which wishes to conserve what is, or even to re-establish what has been ; and that which seeks to reform, and sometimes, in its im patience, to destroy everything. Just as the motion of the earth is the resultant of centripetal and centrifugal forces, so Society moves on under the combined action of the spirit of conservation and the spirit of reform. Try to suppress them, and you will provoke alternately revolutions and reactions. Give them free play, and progress will be fulfilled by means of a series of compromises and reforms, as in England, Belgium, and Switzerland. Switzerland seemed to present a soil admirably prepared for Socialism. As early as 1843 Weitling had preached Com munism there. The refugees of the insurrections of 1848 had founded associations there, amongst others those of the “ German Brothers ” {Deutsche Brüder). The Grüíliverein, which had a newspaper, the Grüttianer, and sections in the majority of the cantons, was gained over to the ideas of the Socialist democrats. The Russians Bakunin and Utin, the Italians Rosetti and Ghalino, and agitators banished from all countries, arrived in Switzerland, the only asylum which remained to them on the Continent. Johann Philippe Becker, a friend of Marx, was here the apostle of the International. In 1864 he succeeded in founding the first section of the Association, and soon sections were established in the majority of the towns and industrial centres. At one time there were thirty-two in Geneva alone. Becker also published a journal, der Vorbote, and attached to it a central committee whose action was not confined to Switzerland. In the French-speaking cantons the sections grouped them selves under the name of the Fédération de la Suisse romande ; but soon the contest between Marx and Bakunin found its echo among them. The sections of the Jura pronounced for

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