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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g2 THE SOCIALISM OF TO-DAY. for their good, he is convinced ; but it is their good as he understands it, and realized by him and not by them. Existing society, in the period of transition through which we are passing, also presents some striking contrasts. No doubt science, as applied to production, astonishes us with its marvels. Each international exhibition, more magnificent than its predecessors, exhausts our admiration more and more. The rich are infinitely richer than formerly, the well-to-do classes are far more numerous, and the labourer himself is certainly better provided with comforts than heretofore. Nevertheless, the misery in the manufacturing centres cannot be denied. What want, what suffering, whenever a prolonged crisis restricts the demand for labour and lowers the rate of wages ! It is the description of these evils, attributed to competition, which forms the starting-point for all shades of Socialism. The greater part of Karl Marx’s famous book. Das Kapital, is nothing more than an abstract of the miserable and even revolting facts which are proved by English parliamentary documents. The Conservative Socialists accept as exact this sombre picture of our present social state, while they refer its cause to industrialism and “ bankocracy. In order to remedy these disorders three systems are advocated. The Economist says ; Let natural laws have their course. Liberty cures the wounds she causes. Open a free career to individual initiative, and all will be for the best in the best of all possible worlds. The Democratic Socialist asserts that happiness and justice will be established as soon as the instruments of production shall be made collective property. Finally, the Conservative Socialist sees salvation only m the return to those institutions which, under the old régime, guaranteed order and quiet to men. tree trade, free com petition, free usury; these, according to him, are the plagues that bring evil to all societies upon which they fasten them selves. , • ^ One of the leaders of the Liberal party in the German Parliament, Herr Ludwig Bamberger, justly points out a singular

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