THE  SOCIALISM  OF  TO-DAY.

104
rôle  of  the  State  is  clearly  confessed.  The  Socialistic  bearing
of  the  Prussian  code  cannot  be  mistaken.
The  main  object  to  attain,  according  to  the  Social
Christians,  who  agree  in  this  respect  with  the  “  Social  Conservatives,” ­
  is  the  organization  of  trade  corporations.  It  is  in
this  way  alone  that  the  present  wage-system  can  be  modified.
Privy  Councillor  F.  Reuleaux,  who  at  the  time  of  the  Exhibition ­
  of  Philadelphia  pointed  out  in  so  inexorable  but  so  useful
a  way  the  imperfections  of  German  industry,  also  believes  that
the  organization  of  corporations  is  indispensably  required  for
the  training  of  skilled  apprentices.  He  is  anxious  that  the
corporations  should  form  themselves  freely  and  without  monopoly, ­
  but  under  State  patronage.  The  Staats-Socialist
demands,  on  the  other  hand,  that  the  organization  should  be
compulsorily  imposed  on  all  trades  ;  in  this  way  alone,  it  thinks,
can  the  labourer  be  enabled  to  defend  his  interests  effectively.
The  trade  corporations  would  have  their  representatives  in
parliament,  and  the  intervention  in  politics  of  the  workmen
thus  organized  would  be  more  useful  than  it  is  at  present,  when
it  takes  place  under  a  party  badge.  Sismondi  also  spoke
highly  of  this  system  of  representation  which  existed  in  many
of  the  mediaeval  towns.  In  the  same  way,  in  England  still,
the  universities  have  their  special  members.  When  the  com»
position  of  the  Senate  was  being  discussed  in  France,  it  was
proposed  to  introduce  into  it  representatives  of  the  great  public
bodies—those,  for  instance,  of  trade  and  commerce.  Although
this  idea  is  foreign  to  our  present  forms  of  government,  it
should  not  be  lightly  rejected.  If  it  is  true  that  the  government ­
  ought  to  be  the  expression,  not  of  the  arbitrary  will  of  the
majority,  but  of  the  lights,  the  wisdom,  and  the  true  interests  of
the  nation,  the  representation  of  great  bodies  and  great  industries, ­
  in  at  least  one  of  the  Chambers,  would  offer  inestimable
advantages.
The  Siaats-Socialist  proposes,  as  a  model,  the  American
association  of  engine-drivers.  This  association  counts  192
branches  and  14,000  members.  It  is  based  on  Christian
sentiment.  Its  motto  is,  “  Do  to  others  as  ye  would  that  they
should  do  to  you  :  such  is  the  fulfilment  of  the  law.”  Its