210
THE SOCIALISM OF TO-DAY.
of Other countries ; and that the principles of the International
will lead to a lasting peace between the nations of the world.
The principle of collectivism as applied to land, adopted
at the Congresses of Brussels (1868) and of Bâle (1869), was
included in the programme of the advanced party of Land
Reform. “ Seeing that the monopoly of landed property is the
source of all the evils, social, moral, and political, from which
society suffers; and that the only remedy is to restore the
land to its legitimate heir : the land shall be held by the State,
which shall grant the use of it on conditions to be hereafter
determined. The existing proprietors shall receive by way of
indemnity Government stocks. The abolition of the standing
army, the profits of the national bank, and a direct progressive
tax, replacing all other taxes, shall furnish the necessary
resources for this reform.” Even in these extreme propositions
the juridical spirit of the English is seen. On the Continent,
when it is proposed to confiscate property, there is no question
of indemnifying proprietors. What ! these bandits, who have
been robbing the people for all these ages, are we to pay them
more ! They may think themselves lucky if we leave them
their skins. In England respect for property survives even at
the moment when it is being abolished, and an equitable
indemnity is accorded in consols.” *
At the Congress of Bâle, Applegarth, president of the
General Association of Carpenters, announced that the eighl
hundred thousand members of the trades unions were a
devoted to the International. In 1870 it was affirmed that
two hundred and thirty working men’s societies, with ninety
five thousand members, were affiliated. But these pure y
platonic adhesions brought little resources or power to the
association. It tried to found sections directly in the manu
factoring towns, and in a congress held with this object a
Manchester, in July, 1873, under the presidency of
the red flag was adopted for the Britannic federation,
red flag,” said the preamble, “ is the symbol of blood shed
♦ [The Land Reformers of the present day in England are no long_^
^;=tinp-uished by this respect for property.—See tnfra^ bociahs
all distinguished by
England.”—Tr.\
