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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62 THE SOC/AL/SM OF TO-DAY. Let US follow still further the exposition of the ideas of the German agitator.* Nowadays, he says, in order to produce with success, large capital is needful. The small manufacturer, the petty shopkeeper, the artisan, vegetate only, crushed by the competition of the great manufacturers. The labourer, unable to be an independent producer, is obliged to sell his labour for the means of subsistence ; and in consideration of wages, the employer obtains the entire product of the labour. This product is constantly increasing, according as processes are perfected, and as science is applied to the working of natural resources ; but the labourer, the source of all wealth, does not profit from it. It all goes to the capitalist, who reaps the entire benefit of industrial progress. The labourer is, then, deprived of almost all the fruits of his labour, and necessarily so, for he does not possess the capital which would enable him, by working on his own account, to keep the product of his labour for himself. Economists point out that the relations established between capitalist and labourer must be perfectly equitable, since they are established by a free contract concluded between the parties. Not so, replies Lassalle ; the contract is free only in appear ance : the labourer, not being himself able to employ his hands, must hire them out for any price that may be given him, being constrained by hunger. He is no more free than the drowning man who gives all he possesses to one who merely reaches him a pole to pull him out of the water. But, replies the Economist, capital itself is merely accumu lated labour : even if it is true that it obtains an ever-increasing portion, this is only the fair remuneration of intelligent labour, united to forethought, abstinence, and thrift True, answers Lassalle, capital arises from the accumulation of the products of previous labour, but it was the labour of those who have not obtained the capital, namely, the workers, and not the labour of the capitalists who have obtained it. The existing * See besides the numerous writings of Lassalle, Die bedrohliche Ent wickelung des Socialismus (The Dangerous Development of Socialism), by Rudolf Meyer, a lucid and substantial production; Dermoderne Socialismus (Modern Socialism), by Dr. Eugen Jaeger ; Die lehren des heutigen Social ismus (The Lessons of Modern Socialism), by H. Von Sybel.

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