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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2 52 THE SOC/AL/SM OE TO-DAY. tion of associations of capitalists, those of labourers being alone permitted ; and competition of the community itself with indi vidual trading. The chief measure of the latter species con sisted in the limitation of the right of hereditary succession to the direct line (the power of making a will being preserved), the diversion to the public use of all other successions ab intestate, and the imposition of a heavy tax on all testamentary successions. By means of all these measures taken together, society would put into practice the principles of liberty, equality, and fraternity, and, at the same time, would render impossible all “exploitation” of labour by private capital. The disciples of Colins assert that in such a social system there would be complete harmony between intelligence and property. All would have an inalienable share in the land ; all would at least have the necessaries of life, would enjoy some leisure, and would possess the intellectual and material means of happiness on earth. A society, thus founded on principles unquestionably just, need not fear the freest examination. Being conformable to reason, and guaranteeing to each indi vidual the maximum of well-being compatible with his nature, if any of its members should be miserable, he would have but himself to blame. Who, then, would dream of overthrowing a system which would injure nobody and would give satisfaction to all ? Although the disciples of Colins have succeeded in giving some precision to the idea of Collectivism, there are many points in their system, and those the most important, which remain obscure. The land and part of the capital are to belong to “the collectivity;” but what part of the capital is to be collective, and what is the collectivity—the Commune, the State, or the human race ? The farms in the country districts are to be let for thirty years. Very good; that would be to apply generally what the State does at present in Prussia, for example, where it possesses numerous domains, which it lets on the best terms in the interest, first, of good husbandry, and, secondly, of the public treasury. But how are mines, manufactures of all kinds, and railways to be managed?

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