H 
THE SOCIALISM OF TO-DAY. 
CHAPTER III. 
RODBERTUS-JAGETZOW. 
G erman Socialists of note have not drawn up the plan 
of a new society. Unlike Sir Thomas More, Babeuf, 
Fourrier, or Gäbet, they do not present us with an ideal, a 
Utopia, a perfect city which would be a Paradise on earth. 
They have a profound knowledge of Political Economy and of 
the facts proved by statistics. They have studied history, law, 
the dead languages, and foreign literature. They belong to 
the well-to-do class, and are scholars by profession. They do 
not allow themselves to be led astray by the chimeras of others, 
nor ^by those to which their own imagination may give birth. 
They content themselves with criticising the classical works on 
Political Economy, and with placing in strong relief the evils 
of existing social conditions. Their works have thus the 
same characteristics as those of Proudhon ; but though less 
clear and brilliant, they have more coherence and solidity. 
To disentangle their mistakes, sustained attention and pro 
found knowledge of economical principles are needed. 
After Mario, there comes a writer little known outside 
Germany, and seldom quoted, but whose few and brief writings 
contain, as Dr. Rudolf Meyer very justly says,* all the ideas 
* See Dr. Rudolf Meyer’s remarkable work : “ The Struggle for the 
Emancipation of the Fourth Estate.” {Die Emamipations-kampf des 
vierten Standes.) The second edition has lately appeared. Hermann Bahr, 
Berlin, 1882. [An abstract of the opinions of Rodbertu^, translated from 
the above work of Dr. Rudolf Meyer, will be found in the appendix to 
Mr. Hyndman’s book, “The Historical Basis of Socialism in England.” 
London, 1883. 7V.]