g2 THE SOCIALISM OF TO-DAY.
for their good, he is convinced ; but it is their good as he
understands it, and realized by him and not by them.
Existing society, in the period of transition through which
we are passing, also presents some striking contrasts. No
doubt science, as applied to production, astonishes us with its
marvels. Each international exhibition, more magnificent than
its predecessors, exhausts our admiration more and more. The
rich are infinitely richer than formerly, the well-to-do classes are
far more numerous, and the labourer himself is certainly better
provided with comforts than heretofore. Nevertheless, the
misery in the manufacturing centres cannot be denied. What
want, what suffering, whenever a prolonged crisis restricts the
demand for labour and lowers the rate of wages ! It is the
description of these evils, attributed to competition, which
forms the starting-point for all shades of Socialism. The
greater part of Karl Marx’s famous book. Das Kapital, is
nothing more than an abstract of the miserable and even
revolting facts which are proved by English parliamentary
documents. The Conservative Socialists accept as exact this
sombre picture of our present social state, while they refer its
cause to industrialism and “ bankocracy.
In order to remedy these disorders three systems are
advocated.
The Economist says ; Let natural laws have their course.
Liberty cures the wounds she causes. Open a free career to
individual initiative, and all will be for the best in the best
of all possible worlds.
The Democratic Socialist asserts that happiness and justice
will be established as soon as the instruments of production
shall be made collective property.
Finally, the Conservative Socialist sees salvation only m
the return to those institutions which, under the old régime,
guaranteed order and quiet to men. tree trade, free com
petition, free usury; these, according to him, are the plagues
that bring evil to all societies upon which they fasten them
selves. , • ^
One of the leaders of the Liberal party in the German
Parliament, Herr Ludwig Bamberger, justly points out a singular
