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. 277 doubts to arise as to the truth and definitive triumph of the economic doctrines represented by the congress of Economists ; and on all sides it is questioned whether absolute freedom of labour and the complete abolition of the antiquated regulations of the Middle Ages will bring about that perfectly happy situation which the believers in laissez faire have so enthusi astically predicted.” While separating himself from the old optimism of the Manchester party {Das Manchesterthum), Schmoller was careful to show that he did not accept the con clusions of the Socialists. “Though by no means satisfied,” he said, “ with existing social conditions, and convinced of the necessity of reforms, we preach neither the upsetting of science nor the overthrow of the existing social order, and we protest against all socialistic experiments. All the great advances shown in history have been the results of the work of ages. The existing economic legislation, the present methods of pro duction, the psychological conditions of the different classes, ought to be the basis of our reforming energy. We demand neither the abolition of industrial freedom nor the suppression of the wage system ; but we do not wish, out of respect for abstract principles, to allow the most crying abuses to become daily worse, and to permit so-called freedom of contract to end in the actual exploitation of the labourer. We do not desire the State to advance money to working men in order that they may make experiments on systems inevitably destined to fail, but we demand that it should concern itself, in an altogether new spirit, with their instruction and training, and should see that labour is not conducted under conditions which must have for their inevitable effect the degradation of the labourer.” During the session of 1872 three papers gave rise to profound discussions : one, by Brentano, on Factory Legislation ; a second, by Schmoller, on Strikes and Trades Unions ; and a third, by Engel, on Labourers’ Dwellings ( Wohnungsnoth). In the session of 1873 the Socialists of the Chair formed themselves definitively into an “Association for Social Politics” ( Verein für Sozial folitik), which has met, generally at Eisenach, almost every year since. The way in which the papers to be

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