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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XVI INTROD UCTION. impressed with social evils, and at the same time to rise to the idea of a more perfect order of things, dreams of social reforms must have arisen in his mind. Accordingly, in all epochs and in every land, after primitive equality had dis appeared, socialistic aspirations are to be met with, now under the form of a protest against existing evil, now under that of Utopian plans of social reconstruction. The most perfect example of these Utopias is that wonderful work of Hellenic Spiritualism, the Republic of Plato. But it was from Judæa that there arose the most persistent protests against inequality and the most ardent aspirations after justice that have ever raised humanity out of the actual into the ideal. We feel the effect still. It is thence has come that leaven of revolution which still moves the world. Job saw evil triumphant, and yet believed in justice. Israel’s prophets, while thundering against iniquity, announced the good time coming. In the Gospel, these ideas are expressed in that simple penetrating language that has moved and transformed all who have heard and understood it. “ The Glad Tidings ” (EûayyeAiov) are announced to the poor : the last shall be first and the first last; blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall inherit the earth ; woe unto you that are rich, for ye have received your consolation ; the kingdom of Heaven is at hand ; this genera tion shall not pass away till ye shall see the Son of Man coming with power and great glory. It was on this earth that the transformation was to take place. The early Chris tians all believed in the millennium. Instinctively, and as the natural consequence of their faith, they established a system of communism ; and in the Acts of the Apostles may be found the touching picture of the disciples of Jesus living at Jerusalem “ with all things in common.” As time passed, and the idea of a “ kingdom ” on earth had to be abandoned, men turned their eyes towards “ another world ” in Heaven ; nevertheless, that love of justice and equality common to the Prophets and the Gospel still found ominous utterance in the writings of the Fathers of the Church. Whenever the people ^have taken up the Bible, and allowed their minds to be thoroughly imbued with its teaching, they

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