THE SOCIALISM OF TO-DAY. 
90 
bettering the condition of the working man, to solve that 
question which, though usually called Democratic Socialism, 
I should prefer to speak of simply as the social question? 
The only reproach that could be urged against me for not 
having pursued this course, is that I have not persevered till I 
reached a satisfactory result. But I have not had time enough 
to devote to it ; for foreign politics have engrossed the whole 
of my attention. But the moment I have time and opportunity, 
I am resolved to renew these efforts, which, however people 
may blame me for them, I claim some credit for attempting. 
In this speech he is defending himself against the charge of 
having, in furtherance of his designs, employed certain Socialist 
agents. But he recognizes the existence of a great problem, the 
greatest, perhaps, of the present day, and he is not disinclined 
to accept the ideas of Rodbertus and Lassalle. 
In another speech he says still more distinctly that the 
function of the King, that is, of the State, is to elevate the 
labouring classes. In 1865 he introduced to the King a 
deputation of working men from Wustegiersdorf, in Silesia, who 
wished personally to lay their grievances before their sovereign. 
Being attacked on this score, he replied, in the very midst of 
the Prussian Parliament, “ Gentlemen, the Kings of Prussia 
have never aimed at being the kings of the rich. Frederick the 
Great used to say, ‘ When I am king I will be a true beggars 
king,’ meaning, from the first, to stand up for the protection of 
the poor. Our kings have remained true to this principle. 
They have promoted the emancipation of the serf, and have 
thus created a prosperous class of peasants. Perhaps too— 
they are, at any rate, making it the object of their serious 
efforts—they will succeed in contributing something to the 
improvement of the working man’s condition.” 
These words sum up the programme of the party of 
Monarchical Christian Socialists, which has just appeared on 
the scene with a grand display of learning and eloc^uence. 
Again, Prince Bismarck’s socialistic proclivities were displayed 
in the question of the purchase of all railways by the State. 
The arguments advanced in support of this proposal may be 
applied to many other industries ; for the successful working of