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THE  SOCIALISM  OF  TO-DAY.

interest  ;  and  that,  consequently,  it  should  be  subjected  to
such  limitations  and  forms  as  the  progress  of  civilization,  which
is  the  purpose  of  its  existence,  may  from  time  to  time  require.
In  short,  while  the  old  Economists,  starting  from  certain
abstract  principles,  believed  that  they  could  attain,  by  the
deductive  method,  to  conclusions  of  absolute  truth  and  universal ­
  application,  the  Katheder-Socialisten,  basing  their  science
on  the  facts  of  experience,  past  and  present,  draw  from  them,
by  the  inductive  and  historical  method,  only  relative  solutions
which  have  to  be  modified  according  to  the  state  of  society  to
which  they  are  to  be  applied.  The  former,  convinced  that
the  natural  order  which  presides  over  physical  phenomena
must  also  govern  human  societies,  assert  that,  when  all  artificial
fetters  are  removed,  there  will  result,  from  the  free  play  of
inclinations,  a  harmony  of  interests,  and  from  the  complete
enfranchisement  of  individuals  a  better  social  organization,  the
fullest  well-being,  and  the  most  equitable  distribution  of  wealth.
The  latter  think,  on  the  contrary,  that,  in  the  economic  field  as
amongst  animals,  in  the  struggle  for  existence  and  in  the  conflict ­
  of  selfish  interests,  the  strongest  will  crush  or  exploit  the
weakest,  unless  the  State,  as  the  organ  of  justice,  intervene  to
secure  to  each  what  is  his  due.  They  add  that  the  State  ought
to  contribute  to  the  progress  of  civilization,  and  to  accept,  as
its  chief  mission,  the  amelioration  of  the  moral,  intellectual,  and
material  condition  of  the  labouring  classes.  Finally,  instead  of
declaring,  with  the  orthodox  Economists,  that  unlimited  liberty
is  sufficient  to  put  an  end  to  social  conflicts,  they  assert  that  a
series  of  reforms  and  improvements,  inspired  by  sentiments  of
equity,  is  indispensable,  if  we  are  to  escape  from  civil  dissensions ­
  and  from  the  despotism  which  they  inevitably  bring  in
their  train.  They  admit  that  Socialism  has  rendered  a  real
service  by  calling  attention  to  the  evils  and  iniquities  of  the
existing  social  order,  and  by  awakening  in  the  hearts  of  all
good  men  the  desire  to  apply  a  remedy.
It  is  especially  in  Germany  that  the  new  school  has
developed.  The  reason  is  that  Political  Economy  has  been
there  included  among  the  “  cameralistic  ”  sciences,  that  is  to
say,  those  which  have  the  State  for  their  object.  It  has,  there-