THE  SOCIALISTS  OF  THE  CHAIR.

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dencies  of  public  opinion.  The  change  has,  indeed,  been  so
profound  that  many  of  those  who  had  risen  up  to  fight  the
exclusive  theory  of  the  entirely  beneficent  action  of.  competition ­
  now  feel  obliged  to  attack  the  confidence,  which  is
becoming  more  and  more  widespread,  in  the  omnipotence  of
legislation  and  the  State.”
The  new  school  is  called  to  render  great  services.  Neither
the  classical  economy  nor  Socialism  can  serve  as  guide  in  the
difficult  work  of  bettering  the  condition  of  the  labouring  classes,
and  in  gradually  introducing  a  more  equitable  distribution  of
wealth.  On  the  one  hand,  the  orthodox  economy,  by  persuading ­
  the  ruling  and  well-to-do  classes  that  the  existing  social  order
is  as  perfect  as  it  can  be,  and  that  in  any  case  unrestricted  liberty
will  answer  every  need,  gives  them  ground  for  denying  that  there
is  any  social  question,  and  induces  them  to  reject  as  chimerical
all  aspirations  towards  a  régime  more  conformable  to  justice.
On  the  other  hand,  the  scientific  Socialism  of  St.  Simon,  of
Marx,  and  of  Lassalle  has  clearly  pointed  out  the  evils  of
modern  society  and  the  feebleness  of  all  attempts  at  disputing
their  reality  ;  but  when,  going  beyond  criticism,  these  Socialists
give  utterance  to  their  views  of  reform  and  reconstruction,  they
fail,  because  they  do  not  take  sufficient  account  of  the  teachings
of  history  and  the  innate  sentiments  of  humanity.  Seeing  in
existing  society  nothing  but  evil,  they  are  blindly  optimistic  as
to  the  future.  They  do  not  sufficiently  realize  that,  in  order  to
arrive  at  a  better  order  of  things,  the  men  who  are  called  to
establish  and  maintain  it  must  themselves  be  made  better,  and
that  the  first  step  is  to  purify  and  elevate  current  ideas  as  to
duty  and  right.  This  is  a  work  of  long  duration,  reserved  for
the  Socialism  of  the  Chair.  It  will  undertake  it,  armed  with  an
accurate  knowledge  of  the  facts  proved  by  history  and  statistics,
and  animated  with  the  desire  to  aid  in  establishing  amongst
men  that  reign  of  justice  and  that  kingdom  of  God,  of  which
Plato  caught  a  glimpse,  and  which  the  prophets  of  Israel  and
Jesus  have  announced  to  the  world.