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FERDINAND LASSALLE. 
It was only towards 1862 that Lassalle became the champion 
of Socialism It was the epoch of the struggle between the 
Prussian Liberals and Prince Bismarck on the subject of the 
reorganization of the army and the military estimates, which the 
Chainber obstinately rejected for several years in succession, 
i he Liberals endeavoured to gain the support of the working 
classes. Herr Schulze-Delitzsch had acquired an immense 
influence over them by organizing throughout North Germany 
mutual loan societies, co-operative societies for consumable 
stores, and for the purchase of raw materials. He wished to 
found them entirely upon the principle of “ self-help,” utterly 
rejecting all aid from the State. Lassalle threw himself into 
the movement in order to propound and defend those Socialist 
ideas which we shall examine, and to the propagation of which 
he gave himself up with an absorbing energy. During the 
three years of his active apostleship he devoted his days and 
nights to organizing meetings, delivering addresses, and writing 
parnphlets. In this short period he succeeded in making of 
Socialism, hitherto vaguely diffused among the masses, a com 
pact political party, having its recognized place in the electoral 
arena. He alone accomplished in Germany what the Revo- 
lution of February had done in France, 
In the “ Working Man’s Programme” {Arbeitcr-programm * ) 
he endeavoured to show that, just as the middle classes had 
succeeded to the territorial aristocracy, so the “ fourth estate ” 
the working class, by means of universal suffrage, were destined 
eventually to become the ruling power in the community 
Prosecuted for having excited hatred between the different 
classes of society, he defended himself with great skill in a 
pamphlet entitled “ Science and Working Men ” (die Wissen 
Schaft und die Arbeiter). “ In 1848,” said he, “the working 
men were at the mercy of ignorant agitators. We should bring 
science within their reach and instruct them, so that they may 
learn where their real interests lie, and know how to act in 
consequence.” In showing that, by the laws of historic evolution, 
democracy must ultimately triumph, he had only maintained—