THE  SOCIALISM  OF  TO-DAY.

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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