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THE SOCIALISM OF TO-DAY. 
CHAPTER V. 
FERDINAND LASSALLE, 
ERDINAND LASSALLE is looked upon by his disciples 
as the Messiah of Socialism. During his life they 
listened to him as to an oracle, and after his death they 
venerated him as a demi-god. To them he is the object of 
a real worship. In 1874 they celebrated the tenth anniversary 
of the day upon which he was taken from them, with cere 
monies which seemed like the rites of a new religion. They 
do not hesitate even to compare him to Christ, and they 
believe that his doctrines will transform existing society as 
Christianity has renovated the ancient world. 
Lassalle did not, indeed, reveal to the world any new 
truth. He only popularized ideas borrowed from Louis Blanc, 
Proudhon, Rodbertus, and above all, Karl Marx. But it is 
incontestable that it was the energy of his style, the rigour of 
his polemics, and to a still greater degree his eloquence and 
personal influence, which brought Socialism from the regions of 
dreamy philanthropy and obscure books, little read and under 
stood, to throw it like a firebrand of strife and dispute on the 
public streets and into the workshops. In two years his 
burning words and fiery pen had stirred all Germany and 
created the democratic socialist party. He exercised a fascina 
tion like Abelard, charming women and inflaming crowds. 
He traversed the country, young, handsome, and eloquent, 
“ drawing the hearts of all after him,” and left everywhere 
enthusiastic disciples and admirers who formed the nucleus of 
working men’s societies. There is no example in our times of