II2 
THE SOCIALISM OF TO-DAY. 
as at the time of the Jacquerie in France, of Wat Tyler in 
England, and, in the sixteenth century, of the peasants’ war in 
Germany. To-day the lot of the lower classes is much improved, 
and yet it is at this moment that the disease is showing itself. 
It appears even in countries where easy circumstances are 
general, as in the United States. Poverty, then, is not its 
cause, but rather the contrast between the ideal and the actual. 
What will make it spread and endure is, in the second place, 
the diffusion of a certain amount of natural science and poli 
tical economy ; and lastly, the constant and rapid means of 
communication between man and man—the railways, the post, 
and, above all, the press. 
When a revolutionary movement starts from a few leaders, 
it is possible to put an end to the danger by suppressing them. 
But when a profound fermentation takes hold of the masses, it 
is of no use to get rid of the leaders : others will always be 
found to fill their places. It is too late in the day to suppress 
all liberties. People will put up with an exceptional régime 
during a critical period, but no civilized State in the West will 
any longer submit definitively to absolution and a state of siege. 
We may see, moreover, by the case of Russia, that security is 
not to be obtained in this way. According to Herrlodt, 
Christianity alone can reconcile the antagonistic classes, the 
rich and the poor, by filling their hearts with brotherly love 
and the sense of justice. 
Examining in succession the several articles of the pro 
gramme of Radical Socialism, our author compares them with 
the principles of the Gospel, and points out in what they agree 
with it and in what they differ from it. This study of the social 
bearing of Christianity indicates clearly the close relations 
which exist between Political Economy and religious ideas. 
We cannot discuss here the numerous questions raised by 
this comparison. We believe it may be said that the funda 
mental idea of the Social Evangelical group is correct, d'o dis 
arm popular animosities, the upper classes, commencing with 
the leaders of the State, must concern themselves with ever)- 
thing that can better the lot of the masses. Christian charity 
must be translated into facts. Formerly, this duty was thought