Responsible government in the Dominions: Responsible government in the Dominions

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Multivolume work

Identifikator:: 1896933912

Document type:: Multivolume work

Author:: Keith, Arthur Berriedale http://d-nb.info/gnd/119086794

Title:: Responsible government in the Dominions

Place of publication:: Oxford

Publisher:: Clarendon Press

Year of publication:: 1912-

Collection:: Economics Books

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Volume

Identifikator:: 1896935052

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-238139

Document type:: Volume

Author:: Keith, Arthur Berriedale http://d-nb.info/gnd/119086794

Title:: Responsible government in the Dominions

Volume count:: Vol. 2

Place of publication:: Oxford

Publisher:: Clarendon Pr.

Year of publication:: 1912

Scope:: XI Seiten, Seiten 570-1100

Digitisation:: 2022

Collection:: Economics Books

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Chapter

Document type:: Multivolume work

Structure type:: Chapter

Title:: Chapter VIII. The constitutional relations of the houses

Collection:: Economics Books

INTRODUCTION. XV then, a Socialist ? After “ the Days of June,” in 1848, Proudhon said to the magistrate who examined him, that he went to con template “the sublime horrors of the cannonade.” “But,” said the magistrate, “are you not, then, a Socialist?” “Cer tainly.” “ Well, but what, then, is Socialism ? ” “ It is,” replied Proudhon, “every aspiration towards the improvement of society.” “But in that case,” very justly remarked the magis trate, ‘we are all Socialists.” “That is precisely what I think,” rejoined Proudhon. Proudhon s definition is too wide ; it omits two charac teristics. In the first place, every socialistic doctrine aims at introducing greater equality into social conditions; and secondly. It tries to realize these reforms by the action of the law or the State. Socialism is an equalizer and a leveller; and it does not admit that mere liberty can usher in the reign of justice. All sensible economists recognize the existence of many evils and iniquities in society ; but they think that these evils will decrease under the influence of “ natural laws ” and t e beneficial results of laissez faire. Christianity condemns ric es and inequality with all the vehemence of Socialism ; but It is not to the State that it looks for the establishment of the reign of justice. The Socialist is a pessimist. He places in full relief the bad side of the social state. He points to the strong crushing the weak, the rich making gain out of the poor, inequality becoming harsher and more pronounced. He aspires to an ideal where well-being will be allotted in propor- Ijtion to desert and to services rendered. The economist is an optimist He does not go so far as to pretend that all IS perfect; but he thinks that man, in pursuing his individual interests, advances the general weal as much as possible, and at rorn the free play of all his self-regarding instincts there wi resu t a better order of things. Consequently, according o im, the only thing to be done is to get rid of all shackles, o reduce the action of the State to a minimum, and to interfere m the way of government as little as possible. Let us endeavour to point out the causes of the origin and growth of modern Socialism. As soon as man had attained sufficient culture to be

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