EVANGELICAL SOCIALISTS.
103
private purse in making Socialistic experiments. It is also the
long-cherished dream of Prince Bismarck, who, it is said, is
preparing to realize it soon (December, 1882).
It must, moreover, be added that Prussia is a soil admirably
prepared for the growth of State Socialism. No modern nation
reproduces more completely the type of the Greek cities, in
which the welfare of the individual is subordinate to that of the
civic State. Under the energetic rule of Frederick II., the
Prussian State has become a vast political machine which 4kes
possession of its subjects from childhood, at first in the schools,
and then in the army, in order to mould them according to its
wants. The Prussian civil code already sanctions some of the
articles of the programme of the Christian Socialists. The
following clauses are found in the Preussische Allgemeine
Landrecht (Tit. xix., 2nd part) :—
§ I. It is the duty of the State to see to the food and main
tenance of those citizens who cannot provide it for themselves,
nor obtain it from those who are legally bound to provide it!
§ 2. To those who cannot find employment, work shall be
assigned suitable to their strength and ability. § 3. Those
who from indolence or taste for idleness, or from any other
VICIOUS disposition, neglect to provide themselves with the
means of subsistence, shall be obliged to execute useful works
under surveyance. § 6. The State has the right and is
obliged to create institutions for restraining at once both pau-
p^^ngmdrm^lig^k^ §7- E^^^migth^c^k^ed^
efiRxzt o inducing Idleness, espechdly in the lower classes, or
that IS likely to divert people from labour, is absolutely for
bidden. § 10. Communal authorities are bound to maintain
their poor § n It is their duty to inquire into the causes
of destitution, and to notify them to the higher authorities, in
order that a remedy may be applied.» Might not all this be
mistaken for the text of the law of a “Christian Salentum»?
he precept of St I^iul, " If any vdll not wcirlq neither shall
he ea^ hiliere transfornued into
r r" ^ misdemeanour. The
ght to relief, as in the law of Elizabeth, and the right of
abour, as in 1848, are equally recognized, and the tutelary
