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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THE SOCIALISTS OF THE CHAIR. 269 or the most dexterous prevails, and in the struggle of conflicting interests, nobody troubles himself with the dictates of morality and justice. It is precisely in England, where all restrictions have been abolished, and where the most absolute industrial liberty reigns, that the war of classes, the antagonism of masters and workmen, is seen in the most glaring form and under the most alarming aspect It is also in this country, for so long the home of laissez faire, that, latterly, the inter vention of the State has been most frequently invoked to suppress the abuses of the powerful and to protect the weak. After having disarmed the central power, new duties are every day conferred upon it. Is not this a proof that the economic doctrine of absolute liberty affords no complete solution of the problem ? The new Economists do not profess that horror of the State which led their predecessors to call it, at one time, a canker, at another a necessary evil. For them, on the contrary, the State, representing the best of the nation, is the supreme organ of right and instrument of justice. Emanating from the living forces and intellectual aspirations of the country, it is charged with favouring their development in all directions. As history proves, it is the most powerful agent of civilization and progress. The liberty of the individual ought to be respected and even fostered, but it should be subordinated to the rules of morality and equity, and these rules, which become more and more strict in proportion as men’s ideas of the good and the just become purer, ought to be enforced by the State. Industrial liberty is an excellent thing. Free trade, free labour, and freedom of contract have largely contributed to increase the production of wealth. All obstacles to liberty, if any still exist, must therefore be overthrown ; but it is the duty of the State to interfere whenever the manifestations of individual interest come into conflict with the humane and civilizing mission of political economy so as to bring about the oppression and degradation of the lower classes of society. The State has, therefore, a double mission ; in the first place, to maintain liberty within the limits marked out by law and morality ; and secondly, to lend its assistance wherever the

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