CONSERVATIVE  SOCIALISTS.

89

Prince  Bismarck  is,  in’  reality,  a  type  of  the  Conservative
Socialist  It  were  superfluous  to  prove  in  what  respects  he  is
Conservative  ;  but  his  Socialism  consists  in  his  admitting  that
there  is  a  social  question,  and  that  an  effort  must  be  made  to
solve  it  Now,  everything  is  contained  in  this.  The  orthodox
Economist  does  not,  indeed,  say  that  everything  under  the  sun
is  perfect,  for  statistical  science  is  too  strong  for  him  ;  but  he
pretends  that  all  the  relations  of  human  life  are  best  adjusted
by  allowing  the  utmost  free  play  to  the  activity  of  individuals’
actuated  by  motives  of  self-interest  That  being  the  case,  the
State  has  nothing  to  do  but  to  strike  off  the  last  shackles  which
still  fetter  universal  competition,  both  at  home  and  abroad.
But  that  IS  by  no  means  Bismarck’s  opinion.  Not  in  vain
did  he  listen  with  such  relish  to  Lassalle’s  conversation,  that
he  would  have  liked  to  have  him  as  his  next  door  neighbour
and  daily  companion  in  the  country.  Lassalle’s  red  mark  has
eft  a  visible  stain  on  Bismarck’s  white  uniform  ;  and,  believing
that  It  IS  just  and  right  to  improve  the  condition  of  the
labouring  classes,  he  thinks  it  is  the  duty  of  the  State  to  assist
and  relieve  them.  Lassalle  asked  the  State  for  100,000,000
thalers  for  the  purpose  of  reconstructing  the  existing  social
foundation  of  productive  co-operative  societies.
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