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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xl INTRODUCTION. appropriate means, it can only be by contravening natural law, and owing to certain artificial laws, which allow some to live at the expense of others. This appears evident ; but these facts are the consequence of private property and the right of inheritance, and, until better are found, these institutions are indispensable for stimulating industry. What must be dis covered is how to bring it about that, according to the desire of St. Paul, and conformably to right and the ordinary course of nature, the well-being of every individual may be in direct ratio to his activity, and in inverse ratio to his idleness. Machinery, say the Socialists, should emancipate the labourer, and shorten his hours of work. The contrary is nearer the fact. Machines enrich those who own them, but render harder and more enslaving the task of those whom they employ. The larger the capital sunk in the modem factory, the more urgent it is that there should be no stoppage of work, for, when work stops, interest is eaten up. Formerly night brought sleep to all, and Sunday brought rest. Now, on the railway, on the steamer, in the mine, the factory, or the office, work admits of hardly any truce or intermission. In the words of Hamlet : ‘ ‘ What might be toward, that this sweaty haste Doth make the night joint-labourer with the day ? " Machinery will not fulfil its promises, nor bring men more leisure, until it belongs to the workers who set it in motion. On this point Socialists may quote the opinion of J. S. Mill, who says : “ It is questionable if all the mechanical inventions yet made have lightened the day’s toil of any human being.” Socialists maintain that the means of production are already great enough to furnish all men with a sufficient competency, if only the produce were more evenly divided ; and indeed, if the number of things are reckoned up which are either useless or superfluous, or even harmful, but which monopolize so large a portion of the working hours, it may well be thought that were those hours exclusively employed in the creation of useful things, there would be enough to satisfy largely the needs of all. Inequality gives rise to superfluity and luxury which divert

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