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THE  SOCIALISM  OF  TO-DAY.
ment.  I  am  amazed  that  I  should  be  reproached  with  having
interested  myself  in  the  solution  of  the  social  question.  The
real  reproach  to  which  I  am  exposed  is  that  I  have  not  persevered ­
  and  conducted  this  work  to  a  successful  issue.  But  it
did  not  belong  to  my  ministerial  department,  and  time  failed
me.  War  and  foreign  politics  demanded  my  attention.  These
attempts  at  co-operative  societies  failed  for  want  of  sound
practical  organization.  As  far  as  production  was  concerne
all  went  well;  but  on  the  commercial  side  it  was  otherwise,
and  the  difficulties  were  so  many  that  they  have  hitherto  proved
insurmountable.  Possibly  the  cause  may  have  been  in  the
workmen’s  want  of  confidence  in  their  managers  and  superiors.
In  England  this  confidence  does  really  exist,  and  co-operative
societies  flourish.  At  all  events,  I  cannot  understand  why  I
should  be  reproached  for  making  some  experiments  which
His  Majesty  has  paid  for  out  of  his  private  purse.”
It  will  be  seen  that  Lassalle’s  plans  of  social  reform  did  not
imply  any  violent  revolution.  It  was,  in  fact,  the  idea  developed ­
  as  early  as  1841,  by  Louis  Blanc,  in  his  work.  The
Organization  of  Labour,”  but  with  this  difference,  that  instead
of  attacking  the  principles^of  Political  Economy,  the  German
reformer  invoked  them  in  aid  of  his  demand  for  the  transformation ­
  of  the  existing  order  of  things.  If  Lassalle’s  object
is  considered,  namely,  the  multiplication  of  co-operative
societies  of  production,  it  may  be  affirmed  that  no  one  would
object  to  it.  The  solution  would  be  perfect,  since  capital  and
labour  being  united  in  the  same  hands,  all  hostility  between
these  two  factors  of  production  would  disappear.*  But  is  the

gASBEES###
University  of  Edinburgh,  very  clearly  explained  the  advantages  of
operation:  Capital  and  labour  are  indispensable  ;  but  if  represented  by
two  classes,  capitalists  and  labourers,  they  will  be  in  constant  strife.  If
there  be  but  one  class,  possessing  both  factors  of  production,  antagonism  is
no  longer  possible.  Mr.  Hodgson  hoped  to  see  co-operation  take  the  place
of  trade-unionism.  Trade  unions  are  machines  of  war,  co-operation  is  a.n
advance  towards  peace  in  the  centre  of  the  factory.  Mr.  Holyoake  affirmed
fhit  the  sympathy  of  “unionists”  for  co-operation  was  becoming  more
“säS  “if  S'hli  rÆ