The Socialism of to-day

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Monograph

Identifikator:: 835096955

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-28834

Document type:: Monograph

Author:: Laveleye, Émile de

Title:: The Socialism of to-day

Place of publication:: London

Publisher:: Field & Tuer

Year of publication:: 1884

Scope:: 1 Online-Ressource (XLIV, 331 S.)

Collection:: Economics Books

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THE SOCIALISM OF TO-DAV. 54 all Germany, the police seized the coffin at Cologne in the name of the family, and sent it to Breslau, where the body was interred in the Jewish cemetery. In the principal towns the working men’s associations wished to honour his memory by funeral ceremonies, at which he was represented as the martyr and saint of Socialism. The im pression was so profound that numbers of the people believed, and still believe, that he did not die, and that he will come again in his glory, to preside over the great revolution and reorganization of society. A Lassallian party arose, which has continued in spite of all efforts to extinguish it, and which has never been completely amalgamated with the International Socialism of Karl Marx. We shall try to exhibit the ideas of Lassalle as a whole, without attempting to analyze his numberless publications, all of which relate to special circumstances. Can the working man, under the present social system, by his own efforts better his condition, as asserted by Schulze- Delitzsch? No, replied Lassalle, the “iron law” of wages stands in the way. What is this “ iron law,” das eherne Udingesetz, which is the foundation of all his deductions ? It is the law by virtue of which, in existing society, and under the action of supply imd demand, the average wages of the working man are reduced to the minimum necessary for existence and reproduction. That is the level towards which wages, however they may fluctuate, inevitably tend, without being able to remain, for any length of time, either above or below it. Wages cannot long remain above this line, for then, in consequence of the greater comfort and ease of the working classes, the number of marriages and births among them would increase, with the natural result that the number of hands seeking employment would likewise increase ; and by their offering themselves for work in com petition with each other, the rate of wages would be brought back to the same fatal point. Neither can they fall much below this level, for then want and famine would bring in their train increased mortality, emigration, diminution of marriages and births, and, in consequence, a reduction of the number

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