The Socialism of to-day

Bibliographic data

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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BAKUNIN THE APOSTLE OF NIHILISM. 237 death pronounced by the Mano Ñera and executed in the same way as the agrarian murders in Ireland. It is asserted that in Andalusia and the neighbouring provinces of Estremadura, Jaén, and Murcia, without counting the rest of Spain, there are 130 federations with 34® sections and ^2,000 members in the rural parts. The organizers of the Black Hand declare in their statutes that the society has for its aim the defence of the poor and oppressed against their robbers and executioners who exploit them and tyrannize over them. “ The land, they add, exists for the common welfare of mankind, all of whom have an equal right to possess it It was created by the productive activity of the labourers. The existing social organization is absurd and criminal : it is the workers who produce everything and the rich idlers hold them in their clutches. It is impossible, therefore, to feel too profound a hatred against all political parties, for they are all equally contemptible. All property acquired by the labour of another is illegitimate, whether it proceeds from rent or interest, and none is legitimate except that which results from direct personal labour usefully employed. Consequently, the Society declares the rich outside the law of nations, and proclaims that in order to fight theni as they deserve all means are good and necessary, not excepting sword or fire or even slander.” * The association affirms that it acts in concert with all those of similar character established in other countries. The Organic statutes are short and categorical. The general sane- * In the fourteenth century Socialism m England expressed similar ideas, with the exception of the appeal to force. The following are the words that Froissart puts in the mouth of John Bull, ‘‘the mad pnest of Kent, speaking in the name of the peasants Good people, things wil never go well in England so long as goods be not in common, and so long as there be villains and gentlemen. By what right are they whom we ca lords greater folk than we ? Why do they hold us in serfage ? If we all came of the same father and mother, of Adam and Eve, how can they say or prove that they are better than we, if it be not that they make us gam by our toil what they spend in their pride ? They are clothed in velvet and Warm in their furs and ermines, while we are covered with rags. l hey have wines and spices and fair bread, while we have rye, thin oats, and straw, and water to drink. They have leisure and fine houses ; and we have pam and labour, the rain and tne wind in the fields. And yet it is of us and < toil that these men hold their state.” am our

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