SOCIALISM.

BY

JOHN

STUART

MILL.

Review.
from the Fortnightly
Reprinted

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SERViCIS
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DATE..
BELFORDS,

CLARKE
MDCCCLXXIX.

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1990
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PRELIMINARY

IT

with

last

the

in

was

NOTICE.

that

Convinced

of modern
involved

front, he

the

societymust
in

it

thought

that

they should

which

the

might,without
one

be

best

Social

tendencies

and

to

more

thoroughlyand

the

lines

im

pointed out

of suffering
on
prolongation

the

the

theories
speculatively-tested

hand, or unnecessary

applied to

on

great practicalconse
be

considered,and
partially

book

bringthe questions

more

it of

spread among

inevitable

be to

always

so

country, Mr. Mill

designof writinga

the

formed

by

had

civilized

in every

seemed

matters, the socialist

thinkers
speculative

the workers

quence

world

the

other

wholly occupiedwith
ideas of

during the

degree in which, even

the

twenty years, when

ism.

that, impressed

1869

year

disturbance

existingorder

of

on

the

the

other,

things. He

INTRODUCTORY.

work

planned a

therefore

haustivelythrough the

the work

not, when

they might
parts of

these

chaptersto

with

his
to

completelywrit

the

It has

I have

the

present

incorporatedinto

work.

that

in

; but

been

not

yielded

even

they appear
as

problems now

from

well

the

mere

the

patientlabor

with

January,

1879.

as

not, I

Literary

which

form

good

is done.

HELEN

to

forcing

their author, but will rather

example of

give

complied

publicattention,they will

on

the

to
to

I have

great intrinsic value

reputationof

work

been

the world

believe, detract

an

to be

have

to
specialapplication

themselves

chaptersmight

request because, while

possess

the

towards

of the editor of this Review

urgent wish

me

down

appeared

the

hesitation

without

the

printed are

re-written, accordingto the

habit, have

different

ex

go

subject,point by

These

came

then

and

author's
order ;

thrown

of that work.

foundation

out

whole

should

chaptersnow

drafts

rough

first

ten

the

and

point;

which

TAYLOR.

SOCIALISM.

INTRODUCTORY.

the

IN

which

is

will

country in the world, and

ably
the

so, manhood

has

tion, though

posing

that

within

admitted
Constitution

what

large

so

weekly

wages,

these

shall

choose

exert

for

on

but

is called

the

pale

electoral

power

give them,

as

soon

will

those
and

our

the

Act
of

the
live

often

as

class,and

whole

present

not

who
as

together as
object

which

they

of

body

com

suffrage is
Reform

act

common

any

states

last

1848,

Confedera

the

that
to

is also

since

several
the

indisput

Such

German

Britain

widely extended,

so

France

all the

Great

In

it.

of

not

the

of

powerful

be

suffrage prevails.

become

Atlantic

most

soon

politicalqualificationof

and

yet

the

well-nigh

now

the

beyond

great country

of

the

institutions

exercise, though

not

SOCIALISM.

complete ascendency,a

these

legislation.Now

great influence

very

the

are

on

class

very

which, in the vocabulary of the higher ranks,

said

are

have

to

they

course

since their

ity.

But

have

they are

engaged (we

not

call it

may

of their

to

own,

support of property as it is,least of all to

the

the support of

reaches,or

property have

considerations

upon

the estimate

made

of

personal character

It

have

change is

as

not

control

effected

yet by

no

say

the
of

our

the

to the

means

who

somewhat

mere

minds

greatness of

of

this

completelyreal

opposed,or

last constitutional

truth, the
late

the

upon

the Government.

over

that

of

motives

operating on

ized,either by those
who

public nature,

upon

me

to

seems

support

for

depend

to
a

hereafter reach,

may

of their conduciveness

generalwelfare,and

those who

So far

of property.
inequalities

their power

the laws of

are

its prosper

depends on

peculiarinterest

any

country. Of

the

in

stake,
realitythe greatest

in

dailybread

bribed)by

as

stake

no

by

reform.

those
To

perceptionsof Englishmen
blunted

as

to

the

ten-

SOCIALISM.

of

dencies
so

political
changes. They

only

in

results

lowed

of

of

evil

either
far

seemed

the nature

were

of

and
expectation,

have

much

past
the

or

of the

told.

The

to

such

the

future.

The

expectationsof

of effect.
those who

emancipationwould

We

to fulfil

This,

country.
either

of the

reforms

as

was

erroneous

thought that

At

the end

as

fore
to

as

sometimes

laugh at

of

least

at

the

even

vain

Catholic

Ireland, or
tranquilize

concile it to British rule.

of

practicethe

been

of the effects,and

if it

as

do
revolution,

various

often

been

habit

in

view
superficial

were
predictions

the kind

feel

fol

changes,when

violent

to

while

had

into

importantconsequences

the suddenness
as

to

generationshave

last two

fruitful in

come

belief that

en

actually

what

fallen

thingshabitual
is but

however,

while

good,

of

permanentlydisturb

or

of

course

of

political
changes not

they take placewithout

aot

which,

that

kind

have

half-unconscious

and

short

that they
predicted,

seen

expectationswere

prospect,vast

tertained, both
the

from

changes made,

many

have

re

of the first

10

SOCIALISM.

it would

either that

to think

ued

remove

the

door

five-and-twentyyears

given

than

the

down

into the roots

of future

have, therefore, time

familiar order of
called

13

to

since,when

seen,

The

remoter

when

they

This

to

by

part of the

of

when

producing;

are

evident, they

observers,to be in
with

connected

understood
been

become

cursory

conequences

have

become

changesdo

peculiarmanner

seldom

producethe

events

changes they

any

are

deep

go

thingsbefore general attention

the

the

often not

are

our

which

history

parts of their effect only slowly,and

serious

most

in

effects in

Sudden

its

of

moment

more

Causes
superficial.
generally

are

'

is much

direct.

But

operationhad

large development

working,which

indirect
ous

for

scope

of its

more

it had

suffrage.

universal

to

every

that

important practicalgrievance,or

opened

contin

of 1832, few

Act

years of the Reform

ten

new

the

cause.

fact
political

they occur,

except

appreciatedbeforehand.

timely appreciationis particularly

easy

respect to tendencies
institutions

by

the

of the
Reform

change
Act

made
of

in

1867.

11

SOCIALISM.

The
Act

classes is
have

jjtis known

ions of the other

theirs.

objectsmay

be for the

of electoral

by
organization,

their wishes

shape,it

is

into

as

to

collective

And

tive way

objects.

not

be

which

in

dissensions

want

among

having reduced

long find

collective

tively instrumental

it will

by

as

yet

can
anything in politics

will before

their

making

not

these

definite practical
sufficiently

certain

as

be, that they

opposed to

present retarded

themselves, or by their

opin

pursuit of

their

much

as

they believe,

powerfulclasses are

However

them

interests and

the

rightlyor wrongly,that

likelyto

are

concern

which

on

very

inobservant,

most

have, political
objectswhich

working classes, and

essentially
tempor

are

working classes have, and

that the

which

far, to make

to the

even

working

the

circumstances

them, thus
of that power,

use

of

reach

The

permanent.

caused

mited
ary,

the

places within

the

which

great increase of electoral power

the

electoral

the

means

when

they

disorderlyand

belongsto

effec

power

proportion of

the

peoplenot

of

do

their
so,

ineffec
habitu-

12

SOCIALISM.

ated

the

to

will

machinery,nor

be

the

it be

return

of persons

cal aims

working

of the

will themselves

doctrines
political
studied
fically

for

from

interest
special

on

the

the

the

of

classes.

greatest

the

The

politi

political

by

definite
scienti

now

point of

view

of

the

opinionsconceived

in

the

which

are

organizedinto

lay claim

systems elaborated

It is of the

reflecting
persons

sideration

what

these

be

utmost

should

to

place

brought

and
investigation

take

under

importance that
into

earlycon

singlearticle of
the

discussion,so

the

by previous

creeds
popularpolitical

that every

likelyto be, and

should

associations,

are
politics

the

will

philosophy,
platform of political
by

thinkers.
all

instruments

pledgedto

of those classes

creeds

rightas

same

impulse of

determined

be

working classes,and

systems and

the

Parliament

to

number
possible

aims

by

constitutional

publicmeetings and

press,

the

and

legal and

The
levelling^

instinct of

mere

of

use

fullest

are

them

light of

that,if possible
i

when
them

the time
may

be

shall be

ripe,whatever

adopted,and

what

is

rightin,

is

wrong

13

SOCIALISM.

and

rejected
by generalconsent,
a

that

hostile conflict,
physicalor onhr

the

old and

in

be combined

ordinary
which
have

the best

the new,
a

of

pace
not

are

before

us

renovated
those

effected
an

instead

of

moral, between

parts of both

social fabric.

may

At

great social

the

changes

by physicalviolence,we

interval

of about

generation
,

the

on

due

altered

work

the

of

the accommodation

whether
to the

employment

depends

shall
society,

or
foresight,

prejudices.(The future
opposite
be

it

of social institution

of human

state

of wise

which

of

between

fought over

be

conflict ol

of mankind

will

if great questionsare
gravelyimperilled,

to be

"

left

ignorantchange and

to change!]
ignorantopposition
And

the discussion

that must

that is

to the very

go down

existing society. The

which

were

assumed

are
generations,

Until the
in the
from

first principles
of

fundamental

doctrines

incontestable

put again

by

which

it has

been

past,had not, except by

of

few

trial.

property

handed
a

former

their

on

present age, the institution

shape in
the

now

as

requiredis one

now

down

specula-

14

SOCIALISM.
%

tive

writers, been
the

tion, because
been

always
which

had

this

It will not

far

as

have

it is

anythingto
the
and

be taken

of
utility
who

the

which

for

look

working

longer

on

includes

discussion

property of their

no

in the institution
will

so

allow

not

not
granted certainly
"

denied

by

from

the

out

classes.

Those
the

that

that

all

have

stand-point
classes

of the

far

as

that the
this

of

and

without

modifying it

being favorable

discussion

subjectmust

country

is

ai)

fouiidL

the

working classes,shall

the fullest consideration

is decided

of

will

subject,in

all modes

the appearance

the interest

of the

many

proposalsfor doing

institution,and

which

As

go

parts, shall be reconsidered from

dation
the

to

are

certainlydemand
its

of

of privateproperty,the legitimacy
principle

reasoners

of

existingconstitution

publicbenefit,they

have

past

of

only interested

are

ques

classes,both

the

next

the

to
possible

be

When

manner.

and

in the

stake

classes who
own,

of

conflicts

conflicts between

property.
in

into
brought seriously

remain

to

receive

before
as

it

it is-

concerned, the disposi-

15

SOCIALISM.

fcionsof the

hostile

fested themselves
the

portions of

only to

questionsof

of

ordinary attributions
aspiringof

more

certain

them

With

State.

this is

the

of

some

for
agitation

an

that land is

term

what

they mean

not

the

by

caught

from

up

and

continental

the

money,

and

an

income

in any

labor.
of

through

Socialists who

deny

the

form

This doctrine

proper
com

the

of what

the

cry

does

have

been

which

has

Labor

Con-

Society,with

the

all interest

legitimacyof deriving
property apart

not

being widely prevalentin

the soil is well

to

objectto

from
does

speechesof

the

intercourse

International

on

The

definition, of

any

but
origin,

recently commenced
gressses

in the

; and

name

the

the

resumption by

without

to be of home

seem

its

combined,

but

usury,

of

have

denunciation
a
agitators,

they

from

privateproperty.

deny

of

Many

one

and
subjectfor privateappropriation,
menced

outlying

wages

is

of contract, which

freedom

mani

yet

as

proprietarysystem.

desire to withdraw

them
the

classes have

working

prepared to

as

yet show

Great

receive

from

signs

Britain,but
the

seeds

of

1C

SOCIALISM.

this

which
description

those

foreign countries

theories,and

schemes

inspiringdistrust,are
of

It

cause

is

where

of vast

large, general

promise,instead

essential to the
in

France,

Germany,

that

doctrines
anti-property

widest

have

drawn

rally round

to

men

nearly all those

who

the interest of the

salves

of very

hended

and

least

abolition

working

classes

countries

professthem-

character

which

are

which

but

institution

more

working

prominent
classes

Socialists of

.though being, like

ibetter aware
than
great

of

probably be

privatecreed

that

working

designationunder

confounded,

it would

the

these

in the

reformingsocietyin

at

diverse

of the

England the
of

In

of

and

compre

impliesat

remodelling generallyapproaching to

And

aim

Socialists,a

schemes

largebodies

them.

of

popularity

Switzerland
sense

from

widely scattered

are

and

are

one

found

that

and

active

leaders

usually in
order

or

in

even

their

another,

English politicians,

most

their

privateproperty.

Continental

permanent changes

brethren

in

the

to

be

fundai

mental

ideas

of

mankind

are

not

accorn-

17

SOCIALISM.

plishedby

de

coup

main,

efforts towards
practical

ends

which

easier

reach, and

treme

theories until there has been

the

of
operation

scale.
of the
in

men

While

the

such

to hold

content

are

seem

within

back

all

continues

general,
they are

to be

the reckless extremities

who,
foreignSocialists,

in

even

land, proclaimthemselves

partial

the character

it is of

of

English

rush

likelyto

not

ex

experienceof

on
principles

same

as
Englishworking classes,

longinto

direct their

they

of the

some

sober

content

head

Switzer

begin by

to

simplesubversion,leavingthe subsequentrecon
struction to take

sion,they mean

of

care

not

itself;and

only the

by

annihilation

government, but gettingall propefty of

out

of the hands

the

general benefit

they say,
The

of the possessors

be time

avowal

curious

at

in

of

an

association

Neuchatel), is

signsof

the

times.

one

The

all kinds
used

mode

it

enough afterwards
by

of all

to be

what

of this doctrine

paper, the organ

published

; but

subver

for

will,

to decide.
,

publicnews

(La Solidarite
of

the

most

leaders of the

Englishworking-men--whose delegatesat

the

18

SOCIALISM.

common
greatestpart of such practical

the

shown

was

as

there

to what

opinionas

any

established
evident

the

in

that

made

the

basis of

they do

whatever

the

convincingto

of

Socialism,one

or

other

from

should

prejudice.However
in favor

of the laws

immemorial

custom
is

more

natural

the

be

And

of
than

this

advisable

the

general

this exami
any

the

double

of

discussion.

hostile

arguments

property may

and

rival

necessarily

the

will

on

that

and

without

they have

those to whom

judg

two

must

irrefutable
of

only

usefullydiscuss

Socialism.
made

be

can

the

of the

their foundations

questionraised by

nothing

can

it is

generalmind,

of which

in detail,it
questions

examine

nation

the

be

But

propose

premisesin

Before, therefore, we
class of

old.

private property

of the

most

societyshould

groundsof

previoussurvey

theories,that

furnish

of

formed

having

of the

room

properlyjudged,and

ment

to

form

sense

likelyto begin

not

are

"

deliberately
by anarchy,without

be

much

contributed

Bale

and

of Geneva

congresses

appear

to

of
prestige

persomal interest,
that

workhx?

19

SOCIALISM.

has

who

man

should

begun

regard

in

them

politics,

speculateon

to
a

different

very

in

attained
Having, after long struggles,

progress

the

that
is it possible
rights,
political
the

classes among

nate

ask

not

stop there

done, and all that

the

or

made

majorityare

so

by

of

an

the accident

done,
to

only

longer enslaved

and
occupation,
an

great

of birth

both

which
advantages,

others inherit without

the

mental

to

con

from

and

the

moral

exertion

and

this
of deser""'fhat
independently

evil

equal to

of tho^e

still

employer, and

from

any

great

made

enjoyments,and

almost

in the

poverty; they are

of

to

has been

force of law, the

will

the

should

born

penury,

by force

be

are

No

contrast.

place,to

formity with
debarred

to

dependent by

chained to

"

ought

progress

likelyto

seems

many

grating by

more

males

adult

few
a
franchises,

of

riches,and

less fortu

all that
^Notwithstanding

extension

"

whether

themselves

further

no

department of purely

the

in

make

to

some

others,the point

there is
least,

for them, at

which

at

in

nearlyattained

and
countries,

light.

is

an

against which

20

SOCIALISM.

mankind
not

hitherto

told

are

those

who

have

otteryof life.
-hat

gained

But

it

that
despotism,

.hat have

all the

from

made

by

the

better

partly extorted

from

won

bought with

support given

to

to

acquisitionwas

slavery,

successive

oli-

partly

in

exchange for

the

powerfulin

attained

the

strongestpre

beforehand

sign of

powerful,

the

fears, and

their

power

steps

classes,
partly

the poorer

them

the

in

prizes

"

"

another, had

judicesopposed

feel :t

not

privilegesof

section of

one

its quarrelswith

the

feelingsof

or

money,

o\il ?

necessaiy
do

/Allthe

necessary.

been

a.'e

pom

also said that

was

-"

jarehywere

it
who

by those

so

iHc

struggW,

1 Is
believing.

in

wrong

They
by

have

; but

their

gained by

the

subordinate

classes,a
; it

acquiringmore
classes

and

power,
tion

in

whatever

ing

came

those

certain

creed "of

which

be

those

classes of
to

those

share of the respect accorded

a

societyrespectingthem

considered

they

had

to

correspondingmodifica

advantages they
to

to

consequentlydrew

produced

the

means

not

succeeded

in

acquir

their due, while, of

yet

attained,

they

21

SOCIALISM.

continued

to be doomed

therefore,which

t.hK

subordinate, have
of the

any

societymay

which

the

opinionsof

so

tended

to

consecrate

clare what

Con
principles.
been

have

always

existingfacts,and

de

to

those

have

assurance

is

poor

classes

grounded

those

other

facts,which, having
long-established

and

abolished,
who

those

of

imperativenecessitythan

more

been

system

same

mankind

the distinction of rich and

ancient

in

yet exist,either perniciousor

did not

what
impracticable,

as

put faith

wonderfully flexible,have

found

on

the

established

classes,

societymakes
to

reason

have

sideringthat

that

system of

little

maxims

The

unworthy.

are

condemned

now

them

formerly profitedby

by

even

This

?
^

be

cannot

The

party.

claim that
should

be

sidered
with
sons

owe

taken

who

their

the

whole

it

idea
are

now

and

arose

constantlyin
to be convinced

ease

and

of

interested

an

entitled

are

to

field of social institutions

re-examined,
if

word

classes

working

the

as

the

on

every

question con

for the
view
are

importance

first time ;

that
not

to

the

per

those who
the

present

22

SOCIALISM.

who

system, but persons

than

in the matter
ral

of the

good

objectto
would

have

justiceand

abstract

be established

institutions

by

of

property

fend

and

would

by

to make

as

have

out

rights or

be

justifythem

to

this

be

to the

An

given

which

reasons

of

not

being got up
Such

alreadyexists.

sooner

to

all

or

as

will

not

later, have

to

objectionsagainst pro

evils and

and

palliatives
applied which
And

reformers,under
of

to de

and

and
legislator,

inconveniences

institution in its best

able to devise.

possessors

impartialhearingought,more-

franklyadmitted,

the purpose

for what

will,

test

perty itself. All

ing

such

the

privilegesof property

given up.

to be
lever,

by

the appearance

case

the

be

of property

the

non-possessors

reallyinfluence

such

stand

the

and

the gene

unprejudicedlegisla

an

tor,absolutely
impartialbetween
'

interest

It should

community.

ascertain what

other

no

all

the

best

human

ought

remedies

whatever

name

or

social

for
designated,

benefits

property without

to

is
intelligence

plans proposed by

attainingthe

the institution of

form

attach

aimed

at

by

its inconveni-

23

SOCIALISM.

absurd

prejudgedas

not

SOCIALIST

in all

elements

to

considered
taken

secondly,the
for

various

doing

different schools
agree almost
find

with

same

to

the

ciety. Up
the

Socialism

of

to

economical
a

certain

is,first,

results ; and
it has

In the former
at

are

order

They

one.

point also they

faults ; but

they

existingso

oi

the

pro

all the

the faults which

generalconceptionof

provided for those

two

existinginstitu

their

of Socialism

identityin

are

There

plans which

better.

"

negativeand

one

on

on

be

in each

and
generally,

constructive.

two

changed to

there
separately,

practicesand

and

that which

"

it is to be

that which

judgment

pounded

SOCIETY.

the
distinguished,

to be

ORDER

is to

the other
critical,

tions

PRESENT

THE

be considered

of its varieties

the

TO

are

in Socialism

parts

candor,

same

proposalsfor change there

changed,and
so

the

impracticable.

or

OBJECTIONS
OF

As

with

be examined

should

ences,

entertain

remedy

in the

to

be

not
details,

withstandingthis general agreement,

there

is

24

SOCIALISM.

disparity. It

wide

convenient,

in

will

attempting

doctrines, to begin with

is

which

negative portion

all,and

that second

of their

part

arrive

we

at

which

undertaking,in

they seriouslydiffer.

alone

first

This

of

part

task

our

ficult ; since it consists

existingevils.

and

of them

most

is

only in

lie

by

are

no

of them

penetrate. So various

haustive
for the

to

make

with

principal.And
the reader.
vition
after

When

the veriest

among

which
the

the roots

item

approach

com

of

even

thing be

the

to

shall content

only

an

ex

ourselves

few

of tho

remembered

after item

he has

or

usuallyattempt

mentioning

one

obscure

they that

are

passes before him, and

another

include

let

scarcity

no

means

are

any

catalogue. We
present

enumeration

an

moralists

deeper than

is
difficulty

dif

means

no

monplaces of moralists,though
these

by

these there is

Of

mysterious. Many

to

postpone all

to

of their differences until

mention

of

the

to them

common

of their

estimate

an

and

natural

both

be

of the

he finds

been

necessities of

by
enum-

fact

one

accustomed
nature

tc

urged

25

SOCIALISM.

as

he
againstsocial institutions,

accusation

an

not

entitled to cry unfairness,and

the

evils

complained of

Society,and
remedy.

To

question

at

Socialists

such

are

as

No

admit

to

evils

of

they complain

of

present constitution
whether

consider

devised

evils,
much

society. They

less

liable

be

degree.

be

not

Those

of

who

of

accept as

total

change, have

the evils which

at

they do
power

has not

to

who

not

yet learned,to

propose

to

as

the

are

in

in

to

the

whole

possibility

set down

all

societyas part

apparentlyattri
or

physicallaws

adequate, or

the

object

rightto

social arrangements

not flow from

is

these

in

them

to

presentexist

of their case, whether

butable

the

liable to those

alternative

an

much

societymay

considered
present order of society,
and

very

ih"t

"

irremediable

other form

can

ready than

more

warrants

are

would

which

would

or

beg the

^x-^..-.

some

and

Man

affirm it indeed

**

""HM*^""""*1"

be

is

truth

decidedly than

more

be to

one

they

"

in

arrangements

no

assert this would

issuer

protestthat

to

inherent

are

is

human

counteract.

not,

provided

which

human

knowledge
Moral

evils

26

SOCTALTSM.

and

such

physical evils
did

all persons

them

; and

that

other

any

equal

societywould
of

of Socialists,
the

such

the

generalgood, a
is

there

arrangements
the

good,

realize
amount
small

in

succeed

moral

or

of exertion
of

full of

are

are

is

the

as

They

Produc
to

means

say

compared
that

that

these

preventing;

employed, and

good

the

which
physical,

wretchedly small

is

amount

Avhich
and

either

an

In

of evil which

mass

do not

involve

evils.

total failure.

enormous

an

of

present arrangemejrts_

Distributionof Wealth,

tion and

that

they

with
even

brought about by

perniciousconsequences,

the
this

means

moral

physical.

First among

tioned

the

Property

are

of

state

admits

until it is shown

societyin respectto Property and

of

as

arguments

as

if

fairlycharge

societywhich

greater amount

or

opinion

state of

valid

are

be remedied

they ought,are

as

againstthe

able

would

as

is

being the
insured

existingsocial

evil of

upheld
means

Poverty.
and

by

evils may
The

their reward, and

men

institution

commended
which

be

principally

labor and
mankind

of

frugality
enabled

27

SOCIALISM.

from

to emerge

indigence. It

Socialists allow

hitherto
very

population,in

the

Europe, enjoy

in

of their

said,that

their

though

dailybread

inferior

quality; and

uing

have

of

be

with

other of their lives

come) dependent,at

conceded,

tion

of

countries

or
indigence,

mankind
arc

who

to

in

hands

daily

at

least

and

that

proportion
periodor

some

liable to

being

temporarily,on
to

habituallygiven

most

up

be

legal

depictthe

the

estimate
the

of

of contin

voluntarycharity. Any attempt

miseries of

It

always

immense

all

least

almost

being at

(and

the

without

assurance

an

classes

in

they have

no

of

property ?

be

quantity;

the

anything

persons

property

this

all ;

it at

of the industrious

or

for

is all that

often in insufficient

to

own

benefits

but

of

countries

civilized

employers they would

bread ; but,
their

it has

proportion

most

of the

naming
be

may

do

can

done, its capabilities,

they affirm, are

insignificant.What

worth

earlier

in

so

respectthan

better in this

or

; most

so

if the institution

periodsof history. But

nothing more

been

it has

that

be

may

propor

advanced

during

their

28

SOCIALISM.

whole

ings, would
left to

be

in

colors

Europe,and

known
It may

to
are

orityof

energy

of

or

be

hindmost

should

diminution

and
death

at

all.

there

be

any

small

run

race

fiftyor

be

put

of the

no

who

for their

So
who

be

the

in the
suffer

The

they

economy

were

of

in

not

be

strongest

some

to escape.

of the

came

death, it would

that

were

lives,on

who

that
injustice

certain

would

inferi

requirea

to

was

twenty

to

has

one

alleviation

would, except through

accident,be
the crime

moie

it befalls those

Dom"itian

or

to

persons

nimblest

lot

prudence. This, even

very

Nero

that the

ward

tribes of savages

complain,because

condition

or

it

civilized

outstrippedby others,from

it true, would

hundred

in

France, is

be said that of this hard

some

Suffice

us.

only who

evil. If

and

be

may

painted these

of numbers

of most

that

to

reason

any

have

England

suffer

This

sufficiently
strong.

in

even

than

wretched

any

superfluoushere.

that the condition

to say

moral

physicaland

who
philanthropists,

miseries

are

to its

existence

unto

misery
put

society;

to

if

physical privation or

29

SOCIALISM.

bodily necessities

whose
degradation,

moral
either

satisfied

not

only brutish

which

satisfied in

or

creatures

the crime
this,though not necessarily
is pro

And

tanto

assert

to

mitigationof

thus suffer are

tKbse who
the

as

of

with,

society,

social arrangements

failure of the

manner

be content

can

the

the weaker

evil that

members

is
community, morally or physically,

Is weakness

insult to misfortune.

Is it not,

^suffering?
sistible claim

of
feelings
would

the

even

One

one

their

person

there

in

minds

near

them

and

right state,

prosperityif

is, which

truly,would

any

the

for pro

for

was,

the

for any
from

desirable existence ?

thing

affirmed

in

share

Since

the

relieve
the

it derives

from

if

it

could

race

has

of existence

its

own

be

social institutions

of
responsibility

human

enjoyableexistence, or
what

being

irre

voluntary fault,excluded

than

cause

obtaininga

evils.

human
If

add

justification

contrary,an

were

prosperous

they accept

sake of it

from

every

upon

of

to

the

?
against suffering

tection

other

on

are

labor

no

means

these
of

at

all,but

and

abslin-

SOCIALISM.

be

would

e', there

against societyif every

undergo

Is it not

and

in

inverse

an

abstinence

least,labor

said

with

blame

born

almost

is

fact ?

earn

ever

of

more

receive

most./ Even

the

poo'r, those

who

more

exercised

idle,
are

themselves

than

; and

by

sacrifice and

to

those who

The

of any

than

very

of

the in

even

the industrious
effort than

more

the

requiredfrom

merit, or

is in the
tioii,

the

highly remunerated

their subsistence

society.

or
justice,

and

the

who

labor,not only

of the

costs them

members

those

pecuniary independence,but

to

any

is almost

individual,is almost

condition, often undergo much

adequateself-control

success

But

of the

justice to have

severer

those who

tive

abstinence

fruits.

reverse

ill-conducted

their

and

more

abstain

and

most

for

of the

ratio to it

reckless, and

poor

willingto

to the
reward, instead of being proportioned

labor

are

the

complaint

was

of the

fair share

this the fact ?

rThe

who

one

fair share of this labor and

attain

could

for

ground

no

favored

more

idea

of distribu

between
proportionality

between

present state

success

of

and

society so

exer

marii-

31

SOCIALISM.

festlychimerical
of

to be

as

do

reallytell

many

other

these
intelligence;
far less than

but
there

is

all the

merit

no

what

are

nj.J^3jj--!_"-"

work,
and

the

born

were

work, others

they

to birth the

life is accident
not

them, his

born

to

born

there
and
small

been

chances
number.

worldly

career

not

also

which

by

succeeds

perhaps quite as

in

indi

to

of

success

When

the
are

unless

occasions

lot of

helped

virtues, so

gen

industry

sufficed
of

acquiring

result ; but

have

by

work

dexterityhave

falls to

their

be.

rich

hard

to

cause

concurrence

If persons

born

are

opportunity.

the

to

dexterity would
had

chief

riches

The
to

become

can

industryand

own

erallycontributed
:ind

and

of

IWHtMi

"

-_,-"""""

great majorityare

Next

person

and

is birth.

poverty throughout life,numbers

gence.
in

which

positionin

-J

_'-

rich without

born

are

-"

which

powerful

most

they

~~*

to

things in

all.\ The

at

and

their favor,

in

determiningcircumstances

great majority
Some

their virtue

wholly independent of

is not

regions

the lot of individuals

It is true that

romance.

the

relegatedto

only
in

are

often, by their vices

their

they,
:

by

32

SOCIALISM.

and
servility

by downright knavery. Energies

talents

than

of much

are

virtues

ing

avail for

more

but if

one

by exercisingthe

in out-generalling
and
qualities

much

as

as

moralist

any

that,other circumstances
the best

policy,and

tages an

honest

Even

rogue.

than

this

is out

pretended

that

tells for

much

the

on

fortune
a

as

degree of

of bad

of the

as

The

is

conduct, which
;

but

is

advan

chance

better

than

stations and circum

more

It cannot

be

of success,

means

difference of

singlestep

one

connection

between

mainly this,that there

o^"Huct,or

'

assert,

parity of

question.

honesty,as

bad

to

questionable
; anything

conduct

of sfood fortune
o

has

social ladder.
and

rival

ruining a

ventures

with

this in many

of life is

stances

same

beinggiven,honesty

that

person

by employ

something generally

in

thrives

useful, another

and

in life

success

succeeds

man

talent

and

energy

It is

and

not
trade, by gambling speculations,

of

seldom

and

selfishness,
by the permitted lies

close-fisted
tricks

hard-hearted

sycophancy,by

rather of

some

suffices to ruin any

the

converse

is not

is

kinds
amount

true

in

33

SOCIALISM.

of most

the situation
of

good

conduct

in

them

be counted

can

world, without

the

degree whatever

peopleno

for

upon

raising

the aid of fortunate

accidents.

evils, then

These

poverty
the

first

of

ments

with

little connected

very

failure

grand

of the

society. The

that

and

great poverty,

"

desert

are

"

existingarrange
miscon-

is human

second

jrv^

all the

with
duct; crime,vice,and folly,
which

follow

forms

of misconduct, whether

ourselves
of three

causes

Poverty

The

both.

education,
first two

at least failures in

last is

now

almost

the fault of those

be

said

in the
of

do

circumstances

the crime.

rough,for

faults

and

not

be traced
its

must

the

them

to

of education, in
be

allowed

to

be

social arrangements, the

arrangements

"

it may

to

be

almost

speaking looselyand

am

minuter

of character

one

in the few

universally admitted

to

temptations in

compel

want

or

towards

committed

desceuvreraent

Idleness and

work; bad

For, nearly all the

train.

others,may

towards

or

the many;

whose

in their

sufferings

analysisof
and

errors

the

of

sources

conduct

34)

SOCIALISM.

would

establish
which

tion

far

the
conclusively

more

them

connects

with

organizationof society,though
show

the

state

of

human

this

point,in

society,the

cessors,

the

their eyes

the

but

their

and

is

foundation

anti- social.

againstall the

sition

and

of

rest.

interests,not
it every

under

place by

one

is

every

one

and

life

as

all mate

essentially

of
principle

for himself

one

grounded on

harmony

them.

system of privatewar

between

is

on,

It is the

It is

In

principleon

of

oppo

interests,

requiredto

find

struggle,
by pushing others

being pushed back by

this

farther.

very

each
individualism, competition,
and

times

of human

carried

now

evils

far-sightedsuc

more

of
productionand repartition

products

vicious

former

present Socialists,go

the very

the

which

of the

enumeration

present constituted, the

rial

the

of

state

levellers of

mere

usuallystopped;

at

faulty

mind.

At
of

also

of that

backward

defective

it would

dependence
reciprocal
society on

filia

back

his
or

Socialists consider

(asit
every

may
one,

be

termed)

especially

35

SOCIALISM.

fatal in

point of

economical

an

Morally considered,its

moral.
It is the

of all others who

his

in

and

obvious.

are

all unchari-

the natural

one

every
cross

evils

hatred, and

parent of envy,

tableness; it makes

view

path,and

enemy
one's

every
^

path

is

constantlyliable

be

to

*"

I Under

crossed,

-f

'

\L
$

v/
the

present system hardly any

one

gain

can

"^

the

except by

loss

disappointment of

or

one

xfy

of many

"In

others.

well-constituted

nity every

would

one

be

gainer by

person'ssuccessful exertions; while

by

each other's loss and

and

are

nearest

and

dividual

moral.
the

from
In the

producers the
and

both

increase

worst

its

up^In

to

social reformers

competitionof
wages

cause

; in

of ruin

population and

in

con
unqualified

as

as

laborers

the

in

its

they

see

competitionof

and

evils,they affirm,tend
as

the

gain,

operationthe principleof

the

of low

cause

gain

we

other's

from

come

competitionreceives

demnation

now

each

be dearest

should

purely economical

by

other

every

d^ath, the death of those who

of all,from

source

lose

greatest gains

our

V.

commu-

^s

"

j,

or

wealth

bankruptcy ;
constantlyto
make

pro-

36

SOCIALISM.

gress ;

no

(theyconceive)being benefited

person

except the great proprietorsof land, the holders

of fixed

whose
talists,

all other

of the

whole

of labor

them

for the

such

I shall have

As

chaptersto
on

to

state

my

the

convert

serfs,dependent

or

terms

compelled

they choose

as

towards
speculators,

to

ample opportunity
own

them,

I shall now,

Socialists

writings. For
as

and

without

opinions

selection of passages

sidered

with

of

the
mere

from

present

further pre

distinguished

their

I desire

reporter

of

the

topics,

subordi

the present arrangements of

on

new

in future

these

opinion on

others connected

the

great capitalists.

many

amble, exhibit

to

employers

of support, and

of the

that
feudality,

in

of slaves

these

to

according

nate

all

market

own

onward,
Society,in short, is travelling

offer.

and

the

means

on

the

producers,to absorb

from

kind

accept these

to

great capi

graduallyenablingthem

except themselves,and

laborers into
on

few

operationsof industryinto their

drive

sphere,to

is

wealth

undersell

to

incomes, and

money

to

society,

published
be

con

opinions of

37

SOCIALISM.

others.

Hereafter

it will appear

I cite agrees

what

differs with

or

of

much

how

senti

own

my

ments.
The

the
clearest,

statement
preciseand specific

of the

societyin the economical

is
affairs,

of the

case

be

to

found

in the

this

extracts, therefore,on
shall be taken

from

society,or

an

of M.

little work

My

first

part of the subject,

that treatise.
for the

Competitionis

Is the

extermination.

of

of human

department

Blanc,Organisationdu Travail.

Louis

most

generallyagainstthe existingorder

Socialists

"

the

compact, and

most

enemy

of

people a system

poor man
We
to it ?

member

of

for

ask

an

answer.
"

Can

All around

he

him

cultivate

he finds
the

the soil

preoccupied.

for himself ?

earth

No

rightof the first occupant has become a

right of property. Can he gather the fruits
which
the hand
of God
ripens on the path of

for the

man

been
for

No

for, like

the

appropriated. Can
that is a rightwhich
Can

government.
enclosed

in

the

is,in

field

soil,the fruits
he
is

he draw

field ?
virtue

No

hunt

or

fish ?

dependent
water

; for

of his

from

the

ri^ht

upon

have

No;
the

spring
proprietorof
to

the

field,

38

SOCIALISM.

Can
he, dying of
proprietorof the fountain.
hunger and thirst,stretch out his hands for the
No; for there
charity of his fellow-creatures?
laws against begging. Can he, exhausted
are
by
fatigueand without a refuge,lie down to sleep
No ; for
the pavement of the streets ?
upon
laws againstvagabondage. Can
there are
he,
ilyingfrom the cruel native land where every
far
of living
thing is denied him, seek the means
life was
from the placewhere
given him ? No ;
for it is not permitted to change your
country

except

certain conditions

on

What, then,

will say,

'

I have

all this,and
is what

to

the

can

hands

unhappy
work

to

do ?

He

I have

in

man

with,

have

here the poor

work

man

poor

youth, I have strength; take

in return
give me a morsel of bread.'
the working-men do say.
But even

I
telligence,

This

the

fulfil.

cannot
"

which

man

be

may

'

I have

is he to do then

What

give you.'

answered,

no

?"

#*##*##
"

competitionfrom

is

What

of the workman
A

How

"

; I

a-crown

how

wants

contractor

themselves.

have

are

how

enough

for

put

up

view

to auction.

three

present

Haif
?
for your work
Well ; arid
wife and children.
"

"

for
me

point of

much

"

you

; I

no
: I have
shillings
wife.
Very well; arid
and
One
?
eightpence

Two

I have

much

workman

for yours

much

children, but
now

It is work

the

am

"

"

single. Then

you

shall

3D

SOCIALISM.

the

have

struck.

It

work.
what

And

is done

are

the

the other two

is

bargain
workmen

to

hoped they will die quietlyof hun

if they take to thieving?
But what
Never
ger.
have the police.To murder
have
fear ; we
? We
got the hangman. As for the lucky one, his
triumph is only temporary. Let a fourth work
make
his appearance,
man
strong enough to fast
down
other day, and
his price will run
every
"

lo ?

It is to be

still lower

then

there will be

recruit for the

new

Will

new

outcast,

prisonperhaps !

it be said that

melancholy results
are
exaggerated; that at all events they are only
when
there is not work
possible
enough for the
that
seek
hands
employment ? But I ask, in
the principleof competitioncon
Does
answer,
itself any
method
tain, by chance, within
by
this murderous
which
disproportionis to be
branch of industryis in want
avoided ? If one
"

of hands, who
fusion
is not

the

of
a

who

system

is
of

so

is

no

as

really reduced
suffice to

not

to

see

to

condemn

that under

the contin
competition,
exceptionalcircumstance,
Has
the
general fact ?

and
necessary
population a limit which
a

are

would

blind

unlimited

ual fall of wages

but

twenty

men,

this
living,
principle.
But

con

another
by universal competition,
And
overstocked
?
if,out of thirty-four

theft for

"

for it that,in the

answer

created

millions

the

can

these

it cannot

exceed

Is

40

SOCIALISM,

it

possiblefor us to say
given up to the accidents
fertile in ruin

and

thou go, and

if you

become

too

machine

is invented

God

the

work

will

made

lists will

it to be
if you

the

knock

become

the

door

soon

broken,
not, the

machine

new

at

do

her

combatants.

command

whom

far shalt

to

who

not, the

science,for

workmen
of

mother

for
:

Thus

populationincreases

poor

do

narrow

anathematize

prives

say,

blaspheme the

for
fruitful,

thousand

we

the

constantly: tell

and

of

farther ?' The

no

sterile,and

"

'

can

"

industry industry
individual egotism

to

de

of the

neighboringworkshop, and lower the wages of

their companions. Thus systematic loweringof
ending in the driving out of a certain
wages,
of workmen,

number
unlimited
tem

by

is the

competition.
of which

means

forced to exterminate

one

inevitable

It is

the

an

effect of

industrial

sys

are
working-classes

another."

**##*#*
"

If there is

increase of

an

undoubted

populationis

much

fact,it is that the

rapidamong
the rich. According to the
the poor than among
Statistics of European Population,the births at
of the popula
Paris are
only one-thirty-second
tion in the rich quarters,while in the others they
is
rise to one-twenty-sixth. This disproportion
more

generalfact,and M. de Sismondi, in his work

Political Economy, has explained it by the
on
for the workmen
of hopeful pruimpossibility

41

SOCIALISM.

dence.

Those

feel themselves

only who

regulate the
their children
according to their
from
who
lives
day to day
to
yoke of a mysterious fatality,

of

the

of

he
the

morrow

sacrifices

his

himself.

assured
number

can

children

an

he

is

under
he

which

sacrificed to

was

workhouses

the

It is true

acing societywith

as

income

exist,men
of

inundation

it

beggars
"

?
escaping from the cause
the
It is clear that any societywhere
of subsistence
increase less rapidlythan
means
is a society
the
the numbers
of the population,
on
brink of an abyss
Competition
produces destitution ; this is a fact shown by
statistics. Destitution is fearfully
prolific
; this
is shown
by statistics. The fruitfulness of the
who
upon societyunhappy creatures
poor throws

what
.

need

have

of

is there

way

of

and

work

cannot

find

it ;

this

is

point society is
reduced
to a choice between
killingthe poor or
maintainingthem gratuitously between atrocity
or
folly."*
shown

by

statistics.

At

this

"

So
middle
"

much

for the

We

now

pass

to

the

classes.

According to

school

of Adam

is the

word

poor.

See Louis

in
Blanc,

pp. 6, 11, 53, 57.

of the
economists
political
Smith and Leon
Say, cheapness
the

which
"

may

be

summed

Organisationdu Travail," 4me

up

the

edition,

42

SOCIALISM.

advantages of unlimited competition. But why

persistin consideringthe effect of cheapnesswith
a view
only to the momentary advantage of the
?
consumer
Cheapness is advantageous to the

introducingthe seeds of
the producers. Cheap

at the cost of

consumer

ruinous

anarchy among
the
with which
is,so to speak,the hammer
ness
the
rich among
producers crush their poorer
rivals.
Cheapness is the trap into which the
hard-workers.
daring speculators entice the
Cheapness is the sentence of death to the pro
small

ducer

on

invest

in the

rivals

can

struction

of

few

Ought
curse

hands

in the

small

the small

who

has

no

to

money

purchase of machinery that his rich

easilyprocure.
Cheapnessis the great

instrument
the

scale

of

manufacturer,

monoply

the

small

proprietor; it is,in
of the middle

industrial

No

one

it absorbs

shopkeeper,
word, the de

classes for the advantage

O

oligarchs.

then, to

we,

one

would

consider

cheapness

attempt to maintain
of
is the specialty

as

such

absurdity. But it
wrong
principlesto turn good into evil and to corrupt
the system of competition
all things. Under
cheapness is only a provisionaland fallacious
only so long as
advantage. It is maintained
have the rich com
there is a struggle; no sooner
rivals
their poorer
than
out
petitorsdriven
prices rise. Competition leads to monopoly, for
the same
reason
cheapness It-ads to high prices.

an

4$

SOCIALISM,

Thus,
the

what

has been
between

contest

later becomes
the

which

must

the

as

But,

"

if to this

the

be ranked

cause

shall be

the other

on

in

weapon

hand,

add

we

increase

compelled to
the

the

first among

inordinate

of

recog

of the

mass

con

of

direct consequence

or
producers, sooner
impoverishment among

impoverishmentof

nize the

as

already enumerated,

we
population,

sumers

of

And
have

we

of

use

the

cause

consumers.

others

made

competition.
very competition

this

of demand,
dry up the sources
urges production to over-supply. The confusion
producedby the universal struggleprevents each
producer from knowing the state of the market.
tends

which

He

must

for

as
pecially

whose

at

he

are

Even

"c., stand

idle,or

gambler

the

loss

on

chance

to

supply,es
the

work

pre-eminentlyliable to
when
productionis carried

will

not

risk

the
; and

still often

let their
loss of

carry

it

machinery.
material,

raw

because

industry as carried on under the

tem
being nothing else than a
the

trust

so

lose their customers

or

any

loss the manufacturers

they

and

he check

throw

can

wages

because

on,

dark,

should

Why

fall ?

rise and
on

in the

work

sale.

man

to

productive
competitivesys

game

will not lose his chance

of chance,

of

lucky

stroke.
"

Thus, and

we

cannot

too

often insist upon

it.

competitionnecessarilytends to increase supply

diminish
and
to
consumption ; its tendency

44

SOCIALISM.

therefore

is

sought by economic
merely oppressivebut

"

And

truths

opposite of what

preciselythe

in all

this,in
have

which

foolish

as

order

it

hence

science

is

is
not

well."

dwelling on
commonplaces, and

to avoid

become

their very
truth, we
declamatory from
moral
have said nothing of the frightful
corrup
tion which
properly
industry,organized,or more
it is at the present day,
as
speaking,disorganized,
the middle classes.
has introduced
Every
among
venal, and competition invades
thing has become
sound

the

even

domain

of

thought.

factory crushing the workshop ; the

showy establishment absorbing the humble shop;
master
the artisan who
is his own
replaced by
the day-laborer; cultivation
by the plow super
"

The

spade,and bringing the poor

field under
man's
disgracefulhomage to the
money-lender ; bankruptcies multiplied; manu
by the ill-regu
facturing industry transformed
seding that by

lated

extention

the

of credit into

blingwhere no one,
of winning : in
sure

all

even

short

the
vast

of

rogue,

confusion

gam

can

be

calcu

jealousy,mistrust,and hatred, and

all generous
little by little,
stifle,
aspirations,

lated to
to

not

system

arouse

faith,self-sacrifice,and

hideous

but

only

too

poetry

faithful

"

such

picture

is the
of

the

45

SOCIALISM.

results obtained

the

by

applicationof the princi

ple of competition."*
Fourierists,
through their principal
organ,

The
M.

Considerant, enumerate

civilisation in
existing
1. It

of human

and

an

the

the

of

followingorder

:
"

quantity of

enormous

power

evils

labor

in

the

which

in

or
unproductively,

of destruction.

work
"

employs

the

In the first

France,

in

as

is the army,

placethere
all

other

countries, absorbs

the

of
largenumber
and a consider
the most talented and intelligent,
The
able part of the publicrevenue
existingstate o" societydevelopsin its impure
labor is
outcasts, whose
atmosphere innumerable
not
merely unproductive,but actually destruc
tive : adventurers, prostitutes,
people with no
of living,
beggars,convicts,
acknowledged means
healthiest and

strongest men,

others

swindlers, thieves, and

tend
"

rather to increase
the list of

To

state

our

of

than

to

whose

numbers

diminish.

unproductive labor fostered by

Societymust

be

added

that

of

the

judicatureand of the bar,of the courts of law and

executioners,"tc.,
jailers,
magistrates,the police,
to the state of society
functions
indispensable
"

it is.

as
*

65

"

See Louis

66,

4me

Bla-c,

edition.

"

Organisationdu Travail," pp.

Paris,

1815.

58"

61,

46

SOCIALISM.

Also

"

who

those

is called

what

people of

in

lives

their

pass

'

good society ;
doing nothing ;

'

idlers of all ranks.

custom-house

the numberless

"Also

; in

excise-men
gatherers,bailiffs,
of

army

short, all that

overlooks,bringsto account,

which

men

taxofficials,

takes, but produces nothing.

sophists,philosophers,
working in mis
men,
metaphysicians,political
do nothing to advance
taken
directions, who
science,and produce nothing but disturbance and
sterile discussions;the verbiage of advocates,
witnesses,"c.
pleaders,
And
finallyall the operationsof commerce,
"Also

of

labors

the

"

from

Secondly,they
and

devoted
a

small

better
"

not

to

with

See

37, 3me

any

want

and

without

the

the

industry

present system

are

than

produce more

they might produce if

:
"

good-willand
want

of

reflection will
coherence

of combination, the

"

the

parcelling

leavingit wholly to individual

without
organization,
any
any

Considerant, "Destines
ed.

even

not

directed

much

how

of labor

action

what

employed and

disorder,the
out

the

production,do

portion of

Who
see

in

which

powers

that

assert

to

his counter."*

behind

those of the grocer

brokers, down

and

those of the bankers

Paris, 1848.

Sociale," tome

i. pp.

35, 36,

47

SOCIALISM.

causes
are
large or general views
of production,and
the possibilities

least waste,
order

give

of action

means

our

birth

to

poverty,

give birth

management
of combination

that

industry, whether

of

strength?

good

Is not

want

combin

as

who

And

at

dis

not

and

order

of weakness,

is

source

Does

riches ?

to

source

ation

destroy,or

as

limit

which

"

can

say

domestic,
agricultural,

manufacturing,scientific,artistic,or commercial,
is organized at the present day either in the state
Who
in municipalities
?
can
or
say that all the
work
which
is carried on in any of these depart
views,

with

or

Or, again, who

present

state

education,
on

each

could

all

which

most

carry

himself

and

on

to

as

ed

varieties

by

harmonize

he

; to

with
others

attempted
the

the

employ

each

like,which

would

capable of,and

much

to any

general

and
order ?
foresight,economy,
can
say that it is possiblein our
of society to develop,by a
good
the faculties bestowed
by nature

of its members

functions
be the

in subordination

is executed

ments

he

one

would

which, therefore, he

greatest advantage

to solve

in

Has

the

of character

so

varieties

of

it

even

been

to
so

problems present
to regulate and
as

in
employments
accordance
with
natural
aptitudes? Alas ! The
Utopia of the most ardent philanthropistsis to
teach reading and writing to twenty-fivemillions
of the French
people ! And in the present state

SOCIALISM.

of

thingswe

defy them

may

succeed

to

in

even

that !
"

And

which

is it not
cries out

of

state

ed, and

too, and
strangespectacle,

of us, to

in condemnation

the soil is

societywhere
sometimes

cultivated

not

see

one

this

badly cultivat
at all; where

is ill

lodged, ill clothed, and yet where

whole
masses
are
continuallyin need of work
and piningin misery because they cannot
find it r
Of a truth we
forced to acknowledge that it
are
the nations are
starving it is not be
poor and
of producing
has denied
the means
nature
cause
wealth, but because of the anarchy and disorder
in our
otliet
employment of those means
; in
words, it is because society is wretchedly consti
tuted and labor unorganized.
man

"

But

faint

this is not

all,and

you

will

have

but

the evil if you

do not
which
sider that to all these vices of society,
up

conceptionof

the

the

under

many

cherishes

correspond

and
you

to

These

radical

far

as

you

war,

forms

between

which

con

dry
lie

in short

society

the individuals

strugglesand discord?
oppositions deep-seated
"

the

between
so

must
prosperity,

many

cultivates
it.

compose

actly in

and

names

and

antinomies

and

the discord,the
struggle,

added

that

of wealth

sources

are

various
able

to

interests.

Ex

establish classes

within
the nation ; in so far,also.
categories
of interests and internal
will have opposition

warfare

either

avowed

or

secret,

even

if you

49

SOCIALISM.

industrial

the

consideration

into

take

system

only."*
of the

One

and

wastefulness
the

alityof
the

ing

point of

number

the

superfluityin

agents

of such

acter

that

the.

with

much

the

distribution'

of

of the
and

consumer

trader
of the

bought cheap and under

possiblein all his dealings

as

producer,the
Thus

occupations.

not

the

same

very

vaunting its excellence,he

can

their

and

depraving char

interest

of the

opposed to that
producer. Has he

is

as

of

distribution

It is evident

valued

the

and
emplo}Tds,

the

among

merchants, dealers, shopkeepers

innumerable

he

for distribut

country

enormous

.of the

immor

the

time

same

the

of

produce
consumers,

"

the

existingarrangements

various

the

at

is the

of this school

leadingideas

article which

sells to you

interest

of

the

as

dear

as

commercial

is contrary
and
individually,
body, collectively
of the consumer
of the producer and
to that
that is to say, to the interest of the whole
body
of society.
"

*******
"

the
*

profitsby
go-between, who
generalanarchy and the non-organizationof

The

See

38-40.

trader

"Destinee

is

Sociale,"par

V.

Considerant,

tome

i. pp.

50

SOCIALISM.

industry. Th c trader buys up products,he buys

and detains everything,
up everything; he owns
in such sort that

:
"

and
Con
Istly.He holds both Production
both
his yoke, because
must
sumption under
for the productsto be
either finally
to him
come
"

consumed,
worked

or

up.

buying, and

at first for the

Commerce
of

to be

all its methods

with

raisingand

materials

raw

of

lowering prices,its

its

holdingeverything
of middle-men, levies toll rightand
in the hands
left ; it despotically
gives the law to Production
it ought to be only
and Consumption, of which
innumerable

the

devices,and

subordinate.

profits
2ndly. It robs societyby its enormous
and the prothe consumer
levied upon
profits
ducer, and altogetherout of proportion to the
"

"

services
persons

rendered, for which

actuallyemployed would

twentieth
be

of the

sufficient.

3rdly.It robs societyby the subtraction of

its productiveforces;taking off from productive
of the agents of trade
labor nineteen-twentieths
who
mere
are
parj^ites. Thus, not only docs
exorbi
rob societyb^ appropriating
an
commerce
share of the common
tant
wealth, but also by
considerablydiminishing the productive energy
The
beehive.
of the human
great majority of
if a
would
to productive work
traders
return
rational system of commercial
organizationwere
"

51

SOCIALISM.

for the inextricable

substituted

chaos

of the pre

of

things.
4thly.It robs societyby the adulteration
pushed at the present day beyond
products,

sent

state

of

"

in

And

bounds.

themselves

lish

fact,if
in

only twenty,
begin to consume

were

not

hundred

town

where

all

estab

grocers

before

there

it is

plain that people will

five times as many
groceries.

virtuous
Hereupon the hundred
grocers have to
them
the profitswhich
before
dispute between
were
honestlymade by the twenty ; competition
obligesthem to make it up at the expense of the
either by raising the prices as some
consumer,
times happens, or by adulteratingthe goods as
always happens. In such a state of things there
Inferior or adulterated
is an
end to good faith.
goods are sold for articles of good qualitywhen
is not too experi
the credulous
customer
ever

enced
has

to

be

deceived.

And

when

the

customer

thoroughly imposed upon, the trading

conscience
consoles itself by saying, I state my
price;people can take or leave; no one is obliged
losses imposed on
the consumers
to buy.' The
by the bad quality or the adulteration of goods
been

'

incalculable.

are

"othly.It
cial

or

robs

societyby accumulations,

not, in consequence

of which

vast

artifi

quanti

ties of
and

des

goods,collected in one place,are damaged

destroyed for want of a .sale. Fourier (Th.
Quat. Mouv., p. 334-, 1st ed.) says : The
'

52

SOCIALISM.

of the commercial
systems,
principle
that
of leaving full libertyto the merchants,
the
gives them absolute right of property over
goods in which they deal ; they have the right
them
or
to withdraw
altogether,to withhold
than once
to burn
even
them, as happened more
with the Oriental Company of Amsterdam, whkh
in order
to
publicly burnt stores of cinnamon
it
cinnamon
it did with
raise the price. What

fundamental

would

have

being

stoned

burnt

with

done

its value.

times

in

occurrence

into

thrown

the

to sell the

sea

would
rest

have
at

four

actuallyis of daily
provisionsof grainsto be

Indeed,

ports,for

for the fear of

populace,it

in order

corn

some

the

by

; but

corn

it

because

the

merchants

have

waiting for a rise. I

myself,when I was a clerk,have had to superin
in one
and
tend these infamous
day
proceedings,
into the sea
be thrown
caused
to
some
forty
them

allowed

tp rot while

bushels

thousand

of

rice,which

might

have

been

been less
profithad the withholder
greedy of gain. It is societythat bears the cost
takes
of this waste, which
place daily under
of fullliberty
maxim
shelter of the philosophical
sold at

for

fair

the merchants'

robs society,
by
moreover,
Cthly. Commerce
that follows from
all the loss,damage, and waste
the extreme
scatteringof products in millions of
and
complica
shops,and by the multiplication
"

tion of carriage.

53

SOCIALISM.

societyby shameless and un

limited usury
appalling. The
usury absolutely
with fictitious capital,
trader carries on operations
than his real capital. A
much
higher in amount

Tthly.It

"

"c

robs
"

pounds
capitalof twelve hundred
of bills and
will carry on
by means
operations,
thousand
or twelve
credit,on a scale of four, eight,
pounds. Thus he draws from capitalwhich he
trader

with

possess, usurious

does not

of all pro

interest,out

portionwith the capitalhe actuallyowns.

8thly. It robs societyby innumerable
of our
for the daily accidents
ruptcies,

bank

"

cial system,

disturbance, must
incurred

having
is

longer

no

whether

and

events,
political
usher

in

fraudulent

or

them

meet

to

his means,
his

failure,

severe

blow

be

not, must

of

the trader,

obligationsbeyond

able

kind

any

when

day

commer

entails
bankruptcy of some
that of others, so that bankruptciesfollow
one
And
it
another, causing widespread ruin.
upon
is always the producer and
who
the consumer

to his creditors.

suffer ; for
does
in

not

produce wealth,

hands.

crushed

considered

commerce,

proportionto

its

The

the wealth

How

by

of wealth

and

many

these

blows'

dried

up

sumer

The

by these

producer furnishes
the

money.

many

Trade

whole,

little

very

passes

the

are

their disastrous consequences

"

invests

which

how

as

through

manufactures
fertile

sources

devices, with

all

the

goods, the

furnishes

con

credit,

54"

SOCIALISM.

founded

little

on

different members
no

way

few

or

actual

and
capital,
commercial
body are

no

of the

responsiblefor
is the

another.

one

the
in

This, in

theory of the thing.

robs societyby the inde
9thly.Commerce
which permitsit to
pendenceand irresponsibility
buy at the epochs when the producers are forced
to sell and. compete with
another, in order to
one
words,

whole

"

procure

penses

of

overstocked
Then

for their rent

money

it

manoeuvre

and

necessary

ex

the markets
are
production. When
and
goods cheap, trade purchases.
creates
a
rise, and
by this simple
despoilsboth producer and consumer.

lOthly.It robs society by a considerable

to
drawing off of capital,which will return
commerce
plays its
productive industry when
subordinate
part, and is only an agency
proper
the producers
carryingon transactions between
(more or less distant)and the great centres of
societies.
Thus
consumption the communistic
the capital
engaged in the speculationsof com
merce
(which, small as it is, compared to the
wealth which
immense
passes through its hands,
"

^.

"

consists nevertheless
would
selves),

matter

stimulate

deprivedof
goods,and their

in

of administrative

jobbing is
commerce.

to

the

most

odious

in them

enormous

sums

was

commerce

perty

return

of

the

production if

intermediate

distribution

became

organization.
form

pro
a

Stock

of this vice

of

55

SOCIALISM.

"

IHhly.
buying

or

It robs

Fourier,Th.
'

the rise in

of

up

societyby

the

materials.

raw

Quat. Mouv.,

des

monopolising
For'
(says
'

articles that

priceon

359, 1st ed.),

p.

bought

are

up,

is borne

by the consumer,
although in
ultimately
the first place by the manufacturers, who, being
obliged to keep up their establishments, must
and
at
make
manufacture
pecuniary sacrifices,
it
in the hope of better days ; and
small profits
themselves
is often long before they can
repay
the rise in priceswhich the monopoliser has com
pelledthem to support in the first instance. ..."
short,all

In

"

which

omit,

these

of

pass

multipliedby the extreme

mercantile
affairs;for products
onlythrough the greedy clutches

once

commerce

there

repass twenty

are

through the grasp

reaching the manufacturer
it returns

to

worked

up

to be

until it receives
into

the

wholesale

hands

and

pass

thirtytimes before reachingthe

material
the first place,the raw
of

passes

then

which

some

or

In

consumer.

others

many

are

complicationof
do not

vices,besides

in

to be

of

sent

form

second

its final

shape.

these

to

Then

merchants, who

dealers,and

it up;

first works

who

commerce

before

commerce

the

again

out

and

so

on

it passes

sell

to

great

the

retail

again to the little

each time
dealers and to the country shops ; and
that it changes hands, it leaves something be

dealers

hind

it.

of towns, and

these

5G

SOCIALISM.

One

".

of my

ploringthe Jura,
is

done, had

occasion

all,but

man

to

Let

the

direct

New

similar

Moral

He

understand

an

"

could

find

communication

the

the transaction.'
To

to

retails them

you

you

should

we

at Is. 8d.

of

means

between

consumer,

for Is. 2d.,and

them

of

'

If

and

workman

house

the poor laborer,not an economist

of common
I sell them
sense
;

towns.

opening

the

of shovels.

come

for 8d. to the trade,which

in

in metal

working

enter

us

latelyex

was

manufacturer

'

ing,'answered

who

much

where

peasant who was a

the price.
asked
at

friends

each

the

might have
gain Qd. by

effect

Owen,

in

the

Book

of

the

World, part 2, chap.iii.

in practiceis to induce
now
a
principle
largeportion of society to devote their lives to
a
distribute wealth upon
large,a medium, and a
it conveyed from place
to have
small scale,and
to meet
to place in largeror smaller quantities,
"

the

The

means

and

wants

various

of

divisions

of

situated
societyand individuals,as they are now
and
in cities,towns,
villages,
country places.
distribution

of
principle

This

society

who"e

business

is

makes

See

Considerant,

"

Destinee

Sine, edition, Paris, 1848.

class in

buy from some

By this proceeding

to

partiesand to sell to others.

they are placed under circumstances
*

Sociale," tome

which
i. pp.

in43-,,;.

57

SOCIALISM.

them

duce

endeavor

to

to

buy at what appears

the market, and to sell

pricein
again at the greatest permanent profit which
Their real objectbeing to get
they can obtain.
the seller to, and
much
as
profitas gain between
be effected in their
the buyer from them, as can
at the time

low

transactions.
in

and
principle
evils in practicewhich
necessarilyproceedfrom
the wealth of society.
of distributing
this mode
"

"

There

are

innumerable

general class of distributers is formed,

interest is separatedfrom, and apparently

1st. A

whose

opposed to, that

they buy and to
"

sellers ;

and

the

the extensive
3rd.

made,

are

wholesale

dealers,

merchants.
of

classes

Three

whom

largebuyers and

buyers
constitute the small, the medium,
"

from

they sell.

whom

retailers,the

the

or

individual

classes of distributers

Three

2nd.

of the

the small, the medium,

and

errors

thus

created
the

and

large

purchasers.
By this arrangement into various classes of
the partiesare
easilytrained
buyers and sellers,
that they have
separate and opposing
to learn
"

different

interests, and

society.
is thus

An

ranks

and

stations

inequalityof feelingand

created

and

in

condition

maintained, with

all

the

servilityand pride which these unequal arrange

to
sure
ments
are
produce. The
partiesare
i (

il;ulytrained

in

generalsystem

of

deception,

58

SOCIALISM.

that

in order

they

be the

may

successful

more

in

buying cheap and sellingdear.

The smaller sellers acquire habits of injurious
idleness,waiting often for hours for customers.
this evil is experiencedto a considerable
And
"

extent

the

amongst

even

class

of

wholesale

dealers.

There

"

are,

also, by this arrangement,

establishments

more

for

sellingthan

are

many
neces

in the

towns, and cities ; and a very

villages,
benefit to
without
largecapitalis thus wasted
society. And from their number
opposed to each
the country to obtain
other all over
customers,
to undersell
each other, and are
they endeavor
therefore continually
endeavoring to injurethe
producer by the establishment of what are called
cheap shops and warehouses ; and t :j support
sary

the

their character

on
continually

be

is,to

the

wealth

procure

master

watch

or

to

his servants

must

that
buy bargains,

for less than

the cost

of its

production.
The

"

distributers,small, medium,

all to

have

be

and

large,
supportedby the producers,and
number
of the former
compared

greaterthe
with the latter,the

the

\vhich

the

number

of

greater will be the burden

producer has to sustain ; for as the
distributers increases,
the accumulation

wealth

of

quired from
"

The

must

decrease,and

more

must

be

re

the

producer.
distributers of wealth, under

the present

59

SOCIALISM.

system, are
and

are

most

the producers,
upon
Their
of society.
active demoralises
dead

weight

dependent condition,at
their

task, teaches

to their

or

the

induces

customers, and

to

of

commencement

them

be servile

to

continue

to

be

so

as

accumulating wealth by their

cheap buying and dear selling.But when they
have secured sufficient to be what
they imagine
business
to be an independence to live without
they are too often filled with a most ignorant
pride,and become insolent to their dependents.
long as

they

are

"

"

arrangement is altogethera most

providentone for society,whose interest it
The

"

im
is to

of wealth
of the
produce the greatest amount
the existingsystem of dis
best qualities
; while
tribution is not only to withdraw
great numbers
but to add
from producing to become
distributers,
to

the*cost of the

all the expense

consumer

extravagant distribution
distribution co.sting
to the consumer
many
the priceof the original
cost of the wealth

most

of

and

wasteful

the

times
pur

chased.
":

Then, by

placedby

the

positionin

his created

desire

which
for

the

gain

on

seller is
the

with
competition he meets
opponents selling similar productions on
other,he is strongly tempted to deteriorate

hand, and

articles
arc

of

the

which

he

has

for sale ; and

when

one

from

the
the
these

provisions,either of home
production or
the effects upon the health,
foreignimportation,

60

SOCIALISM.

and

consumers,

tive of

often

are

most

much

premature
working classes,who,

the

perhaps made
purchasing the
"

happinessof the
and produc
injurious,
death, especially
among
and

consequent comfort

be

to

the

inferior

in

this

respect, are
greatest sufferers,by

low-priced articles.

or

"""""

The

distributingwealth in
Great Britain and Ireland,includingtransit from
place to place,and all the agents directly and
indirectlyengaged in this department, is, per
haps,little short of one hundred millions annually,
without
taking into consideration the deteriora
of the articles con
tion of the qualityof many
and
stitutingthis wealth, by carriage,
by being
divided
into small quantities,and
kept in im
in which
the atmosphere
proper stores and places,
is unfavorable
to the keeping of such articles in
less in the best,con
"
tolerablygood,and much
"

further

interests

illustration

between

"lass,which
M.
society,
"

thus

for use."

dition
In

of

expense

person

facturers

the

and

Considerant

adds

wine-growers wish
ruins the producer
of

compelled to

contrarietyof

constitution

"

the

and
of

:
"

for free trade, this

of corn,

iron,of cloth,of cotton,

add

class

person,

pervades the present

If the

freedom

of

smuggler

and

the
and

"

manu
we

are

the customs'

61

SOCIALISM.

officer. If it is the interest of the

l"e invented

should

machines

throw

machines

do

who

men

find other

once,

how

know

not

to, and

cumulativelythat
it

always alongwith
short,if

In

we

break

that the

facts

existing-

our

good brings
and

it is the
and

hats should

glazierprofitsby

windows

down

that

tailor,the shoemaker,

that the

in

of any

lower

find

coats, shoes, and

one

evil.

some

go

we
vulgardetails,

the

is

thousand

are

social system the introduction

"

at

cannot

vicious circles of civilisation

for there
prove

same

of work

Here, then, again

work.

of the innumerable

which

prices

these
costly,

thousands

of work

out

lower

which

less

by rendering production

that

consumer

be

the

the

to

come

interest of
hatter

that
out

worn

soon

hail-storms which
and

mason

the

archi

profitby fires ; the lawyer is enriched by

law-suits ; the doctor by disease ; the wine-seller
: the
prostituteby debauchery.
by drunkenness
be for the judges,
And
what a disaster it would

tect

the

police,and

the

as
jailers,

and
the solicitors,

barristers and

clerks,if crimes,offences,and
at

once

The

to

Add

an

end

followingis one

this school
"

to

come

well

as

all the

law-suits

for the

lawyers'
all

were

! "*

of the

cardinal

points of

:
"

this,that

to all

"

Consiilerant,

Destinee

which
civilisation,
Sociale,"tome

sows

i.,pp. 59, GO.

"32

SOCIALISM.

dissension

employs

tive labor

and

war

great part of
or

the

friction and

necessary

industry ;

add

to

in

its powers
;

system has for

produce a repugnance

its

further

by the

it introduces

all this, I say, that

social

unproduc

which

public wealth
discord

which

side ;

every

in destruction

even

diminishes

more

on

this

un

into
same

specialcharacteristic to
for work
a
disgustfor
"

labor.

Everywhere you hear the laborer,the artisan,

his occu
the clerk complain of his positionand
they
pation,while they long for the time when
retire from
work
can
imposed upon them
by
necessity. To be repugnant, to have for its
motive and pivotnothing but the fear of starva
tion, is the great, the fatal, characteristic of
"

civilised labor.

The

civilised

workman

is

con

So long as produc
penal servitude.
tive labor is so organized that instead of being
with
associated
pleasure it is associated with
pain,weariness and dislike,it will always happen
demned

that

to

all will avoid

it who

are

able.

those only will consent

to
exceptions,
Hence
are
compelled to it by want.

With
work
the

few
who
most

numerous

classes,the artificers of social wealth,

the active

and

direct creators

of all comfort

and

to
touch
luxury, will always be condemned
closelyon poverty and hunger ; they will always
be the slaves to ignoranceand degradation; they
will continue
to be always that
huge herd of

63

SOCIALISM.

of

beasts

mere

burden

whom

we

ill-grown,

see

decimated

by disease,bowed down in the great

the plow or over
the
workshop of society over
the delicate
counter, that they may
prepare
food, and the sumptuous
enjoyments of the
and

upper

So

"

been
'

long as

which

from

selves

rich ; '

to

poor
a

every

the mouths

Christians

of attractive labor has

continue

many

hear

we

truth

and

few

it will

be

must

be

may

method

no

devised,

there

easy

idle classes.

or

understand

order

in

that

true

that

hateful

and

mean

be

to

there

saying,

day quoted as an eternal

of people who
call them
philosophers. It is very
that
oppression,trickery,

especiallypoverty,

the

are

permanent

and

of every
fatal appanage
state of societycl:rracterized by the dislike of work, for,in this case,

there is

nothing but poverty that will force men

labor. And
the proof of this is,that if every
of all the workers were
to become
suddenly

to
one

of

rich, nineteen-twentieths
done

would

In the
of the

be abandoned."

opinionof

the Fourierists,
the

in the

few

immensely

and

the reduction
Considerant,

rich

"

work

hands

of

to

individuals

Sociale,"

tome

tendency
concentra

comparatively
or

companies,

of all the rest of the

Destinee

now

present order of societyis

tion of wealth

all the

commun-

i.,pp. 60, 61.

64

SOCIALISM.

ity

into

termed

was

'Ihis

"

be

feudalism/'

industrial

as

to

while

revenues,

work-bench

the

to

the

gnaw

the

cf

nation

all

absorbs

which

the

on

pittan2e

its

to the

be

soil, must
is

which

the

of

great majority, chained

laboring

or

would

"

largest part

property

minority

Conside'rant,

the

as

soon

territorial

and

belongs

M.

says

This

them.

on

jeodalite industriellc

la

Fourier

by

constituted

tent

dependence

complete

con

cast

to

them."*

the

partly by

in

sketched

Blanc

whole

land

les

and

the

Conside'rant

M.

"

by

regards
of

capitalistes preteurs
greater

without

or

risk

the
"

as

Considerant

"

Destinee

debts"
of the

become,

in

which

of
a

an

greater

increasing portion

revenues.

Louis

M.

mortgages

country,

as

co-proprietors, receiving

measure,

labor

by

of national

progress

capital

and

competition,

extract

previous

our

about

brought

be
of

progress

mere

assisted

which

is to

result

disastrous

This

Sociale,"

tome

i., p. 134.

of the

C6

SOCIALISM.

THE

SOCIALIST

OBJECTIONS

ORDER
IT is

out

order of

should

has

be

to

been

evident

to

of

But

the

ablest and

most

candid

result of
let

me

of
rejection

any

been

mists, I
of

mean

the

errors

once

say

Socialists.

in

by

strongest
it will
from

Though
not

political
economy

by

ignorance
causes

question

^^6S^c*

for all,I do not

down

to

of
representations

practicalrules

laid

much

and

su^

is unanswerable,
allegations

of their

evils

readers,even

many

the

man

the

how

and

one,

quoted,thau

wanting in

and

much

resolved.

tion is not

have

How

principaltheoretic

I have

the passages

which,

against the existing

susceptibleof exaggeration;

is

is the

that the considerations

either

to the

the

is

other,

have

EXAMINED.

precedingchapter make

this world.

be referred

which

PRESENT

THE

society,or againstthe position of

in

himself

case

in the

to notice

case
frightful

the

SOCIETY

OF

impossibleto deny

brought

TO

of

which

of

the

much
little
;

by
the

mean

policy which

politicalecono
economic
the

facts,
economic

66

SOCIALISM.

of

phenomena

it

societyas

actuallydeter-

is,are

ruined.
In the first placeit is

wretchedly insufficient

Europe, are

physicaland
in

further

is,in the

words

M.

of

continue des salaires

tion

all accurate

to

notorious

to

diminish

Louis

the assertion

has

to

yet

remun

that there
baisse

is in

opposi

and
be

to

money

or

ing ; while

in articles of
in

slower, but

branches
ally,

more

of

labor,estimated

an

increase

rapid.

the

on

are,

which
There

industrywhich

are

wages

productionaccommodates
are

depressed;which

an

in

declin
on

is becoming,
are, occasion

being gradu

itself to
is

where

whole,

allysupersededby something else,and,

until

that

either

consumption,are

they

many

the increase ; and

not

of

ordinarywages

many

proved

in the civilized world

tltC-rcL ",ivr"'"Ll"uutry
the

is

une.

Blanc,

information,

It

facts.

it

this insufficient

even

tendency

population

But, when

measure.

allegedthat

eration has

supply the

to

necessities of the

moral

tolerable

any

countries of

all the

ordinary labor,in

of

wages

that the

unhappilytrue

in

those,

demand,

evil, but

SOCIALISM.

temporary
tion

and

one,

thus

diminution

of

admit

great allevia-,

presentsystem of social

in the

even

would

of the

produced

economy.

reward

of *r
.-*""-

labor in
and

of

the

evidence

new

source

total

the

of increased

of

and

the

an

of diminution

found
of

increased.

even

of

leading branch

To

rate, or

tionally
high rate,at

earlier time.

are

doubt

no

frequent

and

economical

as

historyas

involved

sons

fluctuation

populationaffords
not

weigh

There

heavier

is much

in

the

or

excep

The

were

each

though

of them
of

as

of

greater scale of

the
sufferers,

evidence

vicissi

periods

fluctuation,may

more

year

the present

greater number

greater,but

on

always

some

former
The

now.

in each

appear

is

great evil,but they

severe

the transactions,and

even

out

of wages

month

some

time, with the average

tudes

make

industry,it

and temporary depressionat

special

an

being

in the rate

to compare

necessary

or

other

some

remuneration

average

or

appearance

remuneration,

remuneration,in

undiminished,

in any

is the effect

particular
employment

some

of per

make
a

the

larger

evil

does

individually

improvement,

and

68

SOCIALISM.

that is at all

none,

in the mode
of the

of

and

can

of

some

bad

the

livingof
of

countries
to the

appearance

trustworthy,of deterioration,

traced either

unwise

of

admits
manent

calamity, or
act

of

all

is any

partial,

or

the

to

pressure
to

some

which

government

operate

the

while

being corrected,

causes

there

contrary it is local

temporary
or

when

Europe ;

always be

law

laboringpopulation

the

in

per

direction

of

improvement.
M.

Louis

self much

while showing
Blanc, therefore,

enlightenedthan

more

of levellers and

of

fallen into

by

first committed

that of

power

pressure

upon

population,appears

to

The

Malthusians

thought

dency, while

M. Louis

which
his

and

than
must

followers,

an

Blanc

subsistence, its
be

always

grow

difference is that the

this

at

was

populationhas

because

subsistence

wages

error

Malthus

of increase

severe.

he recog
the

same

supposing that

greater

ing more

the

as

and

low

between

over-rapid increase
have

the older school

democrats,inasmuch

nizes the connection

him

early

ten
irrepressible

thinks

that

it

can

69

SOCIALISM.

be

but only under

repressed,
It is

munism.

when

it

great point gained for truth

be

to

comes

as

the

And

admitted

by

the

chiefs of all

Blanc, admitted
tive

systems

with

this

pre-eminent

societythe

pressure

is the

great,is

not

an

to

new

opened

to

countries

of low wages,

of all that

labor

ex

of

though

the

on

civiliza

of

employing

the

increased

transportingitself

unoccupied fields

ployment,and partlyby

con

it,partlyby the

means

for

is called

diminish

of the

and

be,

existingstate

maintaining labor,partly by

facilities

dealing

this may

increasingevil

tendency to

rapid increase

more

and

11. Louis

populationon subsistence,

principalcause

trary,the progress
tion has

of

of Social

of

power

the

in

con

for their respec

However
difficulty.
that

as

have

most

less than

it,and claimed
a

to

rejoicedat

existingschools

Fourier,no

perienceshows

would
society,
be

siderable

and

Communism,

to

is
necessity

which

of

tendency

it is much

that this

Owen

the

fact which

existingorder

to deal with.

ism.

that

seen

is a
over-population
well

system of Com

of

em

generalimprovement

70

SOCIALISM.

in the

and
intelligence

prudence of the popula

tion.

This

doubt,

is slow

should

take

progress,

much

that such

while

we

progress

still

are

greatlyto

when

the

the

only in

force of all the

of

est power
sure

of

what

It

means

no

of

claim

the

tendency
peculiar

not

is,of

course,

the

of

likely to

interfere with

be

pres
this

on

its weakest
of

its

point

strongest.

be considered

as

the

grow

through

poverty to produce over

at

present constituted

abyss,but
of it,and

is

gradually,

this

progressiveif
'

open

great

the

of mankind

mass

that

descending into

is

of im

causes

preventing the generaland

though slowly,risingout
ment

one

to

add

must

said for Socialism

be

be

population. Society as
not

be

to

to

just

ing degradationof
the

of the whole

societyhas

long thought to

/"''Butit has

stage of that

subsistence,and

is much

\\rjll,
perhaps,prove

sole

of

population on

was

placeat all,

with
dealing successfully

questionthere
what

form

two

but it is

advanced

more

above.
provement specified
to discussion

first

for the education

publicmovement
people,which

no

bad

improve
laws

do

71

SOCIALISM.

Next, it must
and
rally,

have
the

as

the

even

overlook

for

"

labor,or
would

commodities, which
had

ties to

all

competitionis
as

well

as

on

cause

of

of low ; that

the sellers ; and

they

them

are,

from

is

lower

the

only if every
his commodi

or

the

the

buyers of

labor and

another

one

and

well

as

commodities

competition which

fallingstill

is not

competi

They forget that

In

lower.

competition is perfectlyfree
tendency

his

that if it is competitionwhich

keeps the pricesof labor

as

accept

high pricesand values

compete with

of commodities
as

side.

one.

one's

price for

great monopolist,and

some

were

his labor

disposeof

to

its

to

one

be true

half

every

less

of

they regard

grinding down

obligingevery

for his

notion
see

other half ;

the

for

agency

an

less wages

tion

one-sided

operationof competition. They

remuneration

one

enlightened of them,

most

imperfect and

very

and
effects,

it

that Socialists gene

be observed

on

speciallyeither

but
priceof articles,

to

low

as

prevents

truth, when
both

to

sides,its

raise

or

equalizeit ;

level inequalitiesof remuneration, and

to
to

to reduce

72

SOCIALISM.

all to
as

generalaverage,

realized

for

the

time

competitionwhich
we

fix

down, and

solelyto
would
and

the

motive

gives a

the labor

the

to

from

market

hand

have

credit

pricesof the articles

on

for

which

wages,

laboringclasses

if they can,
competition,

of

other

laboringclasses,it

that if competitionkeepsdown

withdraw
ence

keeping them

effect in reference

of the

interest

effects of

the

keeping up prices,

its effect in

contemplate this

seem

so

on

if,disre

But

part of
in

consists

attention

our

that

it must

as

are

said in

we

reduced

modities
and

"can

meet
our

to affirm that

the

Socialists,

when

demand

any

com

delusive

higher pricesthan before,

the richest

all his rivals, he

Blanc,

pricesof

produced by competition are

to

depend

M. Louis

low

the

expend

are

this consideration

quotationfrom

lead in the end

because
of

To

wages.

the

on

keeping down
wages

to

full influ

the

ed, to the great advantage of those who

on

far

so

is, on
imperfectly),

very

dcsi Table.
principles,

Socialistic

garding

doubt

(no

result which, in

competitor has

commands

price

he

the

got rid

market

pleases. Now,

and
the

73

SOCIALISM.

experienceshows

commonest

is wholly
reallyfree competition,

things,under

imaginary. /The
nor

can

himself

of all his

many

has

become,

come,

the

monopoly

kind

sible where,

of

shows

or

of

tendency to

any

of

case

competition possibleis

is sometimes

scale to be within

talists ; and
nesses

which

this is

between

the reach
of the

one

two

cannot
joint-stock
enterprises

itself,
ought

to

and,
prescribed,
State,for

be

the purpose

time
of

its wants

by privateinterest

on

to

three

or

too vast

why

reasons

by

the

under

the

than would

in the absence

busi

to

com

State to

conditions

time, varied

insuringto

capi

by great

on

be trusted

reserved

carried

from

cheaper supply of
ed

not

pos

of individual

be carried

require to

but, when
petition,

be

the only
railways,

great companies,the operationsbeingon

a

among

few.'

in the

important branch

any

policydescribed

as

market

the

formerlydivided

commerce

does

establish

rivals,and

possessionof

the fact that

industryor

The

competitor neither

richest

exclusive

it is not

and
of

rid

get
in

this state of

that

by

the

publica

be afford
of sufficient

74

SOCIALISM.

competition. But

in

industry no

drive

businesses

show

hands

this

which
session
of

of

competitor has
smaller'

tendency

of

number

ordinarybranches

all the

out

small

of many

smaller

rich

one

to

power

the

to

happens

largercapitalpermits

powerful machinery,more

more

the

in which

those

are

of

out

the

dealers into

; but

largerones

his

Some

ones.

pass

producers or

it in

of

the

cases

in

the pos

adoption

efficient(by

"V

expensive)
processes,

more

and

economical

more

ness,

thus

and

or

mode

enables

better

of

the

organized

carryingon

busi

large dealer legiti

mately and permanently to supply the commodity

cheaper than
the

great advantage of

fore of the

tanto, that

munity

so

unnecessary
and

of the

calls the
is
or

be done

can

on

the small

the consumers,

laboringclasses,and
of the

waste

much

scale ; to
and

there

diminishing,
pro
of

resources

the

com

the
complained of by Socialists,

of
multiplication
various

other

mere

distributors,

classes whom

of industry. When
parasites

this

Fourier

change

either individual
the larger
effected,
capitalists,

jointstock,

among

which

the

business

is

75-

SOCIALISM.

seldom,

divided, are
branch

of commerce,

few

so

continue

shall not

be

to
first,

includingthose

growing,not

in

the

which

on

illusive but

is not

But

in

keeping down

tion in

there

are

the

which

other

no

was

it
not

of

the

best

Socialists

was

complete

so

securityfor

securityfor quality.

consumers

securityfor

largeenough

fortune

enable

nor

the

dealer

success

that he had

depended
; and

when

on

his

dealer

both.
means

to make

by continuallyattractingnew
his

their

add, is

may

producersand

those

we

admit

means

publicitysufficientto

at

expended,

are

wages

not

of

tomers

to
prices,

as

equallyimportant,
respects,

times, when

market

The

afterwards,

charges brought by

less numerous,

were

to uncler-

fact.
declining,

cheapness,but by
In former

that

so

pricesof commodities,

Competition is

answer.

them

lower

real,and,

againstcompetitiondo
an

them;

enabled

on,

competition

therefore,of competi
operation,

The

customers.

that

as

dealers,continues

passed

considerable

any

act between

to

-.ingin cost,which
.xt.-Ii
the small

in

if ever,

cus

retaining
furnished

76

SOCIALISM.

to those whom

known
ed

character

be made

him

than

in

increase

competed for,dealers

essential

certaintyof

that the bad

low

greed

the

modest

business.

to

their

the much

the

there

of

the
the

dependent on
less

far less

for

goods

cheapness;

is

the

now

greater prizesseem

who

others,
than
at the

made

cupidity of all,and

rapid gain substitutes

this manner,

more

while

greater fortunes

excite

one

learned from

or

the

tradesman

thousand

desire to make
In

on

of business

is also

prices which

quality of

dealers

little

so

for himself

equivalentfor
time

quantity

and

that character is much

known,

are

discovered

some

would

obtaining the character they

their

The

-advertises

the

them, while

to

deserve.

competition

are

customers

permanent

by

gain that

transactions,with

great scale of modern

same

the

by cheating casual purchasers.But

immense

.an

dealingof

dishonest

or

great multiplicationof

has

soon

was

concerned, and he acquir

it

for honest

importanceto

more

the

he did not,the fact

when

or
good articles,

as

itself for

livingby
wealth

to be within

their

increases

reach,more

77"

SOCIALISM.

and

of

more

; and

commerce

the

gambling spiritis introduced

this

where

simplest maxims
the most

but all,even

improbity
the

receive

tioned

that

certain

height,andwhen

of. an

article

this

of the modes

any

givingshort
there

is

now

on

who
practises,
for the

at

the lower
a

these

dealer

the

is

have

not

of

aware

men

reached

the

a.

producers

resorted

to

adulteration,.

as

price,and
a

they
better

fraudulent

originatedthem

the

low

not

go

article,and

do not

on

find

worth

pa}7in:;

the honest

disadvantage.

few, become

;.

pricesfal

article is not

will

terrible

frauds, begun by

the

the frauds,but

that the

ever,

placedat

be

to

in it have

adopt

to

would

higher pricefor

intensityof

complaint,the temptation.

much

public are

if
first,

is

"cu ol.th.eincrease of which

laciouslyproduced by
out

portionof

pecuniary
This

intensity has

fraud, such

measure,
so

is immense

of

the

It is further

the dealers

or

of

stimulus.

is called

competition.

are-

prudence disregarded,

terrible

when

prevailsnot only

forms
perilous,

of what

meaning

modern

of

into

Thus

customs

of

78

SOCIALISM.

the trade,and
is

and

more

On

the

morality of the tradingclasses

deteriorated.

more

this

Socialists
point,therefore,

out

the

made
but

of

the

growth

existence

which

one

of

grapplingwith
mercial

frauds

no

the

They

of

misdeeds

by

which

are

ever,

those
of

lenient.

of these
which

of

to

The

far

this

it is

law

them.

possible
class of

brought,the

country

of the

mass

priceor qualityof

dailyconsumption,can

it is

is most

important class,how

frauds,to the

affect the

unless

brought before

which, when

most

execu

publicprosecutor.

how

of

of

againstcom

enforce

to

seldom

now

judicialadministration
unduly

its power

have
description

of the criminal

means

tribunals,and

the

need

discovered

It is still to be
to repress

in

must

yet used

never

laws

one

some

with

to grow

being really enforced

in
specially

are

The

of this

Laws

specialduty

greatevil,

and their
defective,

very

so.

of

chance

already

this evil.

really

wealth^AEt

societyhas

are

are

tion still more

tends

populationand

which

means

and

grows

be said,however, that
the

only of

not

have

be in

people,
articles

great measure

79

SOCIALISM.

By

this

obtain

an

to

pass

sale

or, what

the

the

heavy

tax

and

at the

same

paid to

now

time

thus

interest in

established),
from

skill

managers,
can

large.

and

The

the

work

to
to be

great success

the system prove,

the

have

no

really

consist in

required in

them
and

are

numbers

done

plan

imperfectnature
over

who

distributors

trustworthiness

be exercised

j Dis

performed by

difficultiesof the

the

frauds,

cheapnessand good

reduced

quantity of

and

the

those

the

article ; and

requires.The

which

whole

classes
distributing

work

and

wholesale

that

been

other

and

anythingbut

the

the

the

paid by

capable of being thus

which

the

(now

eliminate

becomes

agents selected and

of

purpose,

producers,thus freeingthemselves

tribution

at

from

is better

trators of adulterations

ness

form

retail dealers

co-operative
agencieshave

from

the

for the

the

over

who

consumers

their articles direct

merchants,

stores.
co-operative

association

into

enabled

are

of

body

plan any

themselves

of

the institution

by

overcome

'"

the

of the control

by

the

body

rapid growth

of

however, that these difficulties

80

SOCIALISM.

in

are,

tolerable

some

all

At

degree,overcome.

events, if the beneficial tendency of the competi

promotingcheapnessis

tion of retailers in
and

gone,

tion in
rid

quality is
deterioratiDg

of; and

prosperityof

the

stores

shows

only

without

that

concerns

this

largepercentage on

of

at

rate

any

the

got

co-operative
not

but
cheapness,

with

to return

the

to the

price of

consumers

every

concerned,'an

effectual

article

this class

So far,therefore,as

them.

is

evils

competi

same

of the
it,since the profits

to

enable them

suppliedto

to

securities,

is obtained

benefit

detriment

great advantage

the

tendency of

the mischievous

other

replacedby

has to be

fore

remedy

is

which, though suggestedby

already in operation,
and

partly grounded

consistent

with

socialistic

on

the

is
principles,

existing constitution

of

property/'
With

regard to

those

spicuous economical

frauds,

equivalentto frauds, of
able

by

cases

have

merchants

become
and

greater and

which

notorious

bankers

con

malpractices

or

so

more

many
"

deplor

committed

between

them-

81

SOCIALISM.

selves

as

of

such

the

reprobationby opinion, and

had

dies has
It is

the

on

malefactors, but

by

that

of

and

too

it seemed
and

to be

of

direction to the

that these

in

insolvent

other

the

the class of
debtors

countries

which

to

liable,insolvents

are

as

were

the
came

objectsof compassion,
the hand

thought that

them.

By

an

ordinaryone

punishment

light;

to

publicopinion could

lightlyupon

in the

effectual trial.

an

reactions

those

regardedmainly

of law

of

reme

against simple insolvency,

mankind

opinions of
to be

in that

savage

one

efficient

more

of these

not
place,

of this and

laws

formerly so

their

sterner

of insolvencies

occurrence

perpetratorstake

the

to

are

practicesusually come

dishonest

and

Neither

approach

any

the

present constitution

societyaffords against them

repressionby the law.

remedy

available, and

is not

which

resources

have

who

those

and

money,

described

above

only

with

them

trusted

them

between

or

of

of offr.nces in

hardlypress
in

error

both

our

contrary

law, which

general wholly

neglectsthe questionof reparationto

the

sufferer,

82

SOCIALISM.

bankruptcy laws

our

the recovery

for

have

almost

the

sole

importance beingattached
the

for any

bankrupt

directlyinterfere
three

For

to the

that

four years

or

act

has been

to the

gent

stillbeen

creditors,and

the

himself, with
of

the

not

least

which

On

bank

one

less indul

primary object

the

the

exception of

small

in

of

pecuniary interest

the

bankrupt
number
with

there
affirmed,
confidently
this

country, societyhas
of

it possesses

power

contrary,it

the

all the

trickster

fortune,

or

most

been

making

dishonesty dangerous to the perpetra

mercantile
tor.

the

exerted

has

than

not

purpose.

criminalityin

be

It may

fore,that, at

primary

more

but

does

offences,gets off almost

well-marked

impunity.

which

passed,somewhat

bankrupt ;

regardedhas

punishment of

past there

slightcounter-reaction,and
ruptcy

scarcelyany
object,

misconduct

with

treated

is left of their

for creditors of what

property as

time

some

if

reduced

is
is

advantage
the

trick

preserves
to

gambling

on

succeeds

it ;

if it

poverty, which

the

trick in

side of the

it makes

fails,he
was

his
is at

perhaps

83

SOCIALISM.

when

already impending

he is classed

the chance, and

looked

not

have,

the

among

mode

solvency has

been

be

dishonesty cannot
prevalenceof
cial

Until

tried

which

by

even

but
moral

more

culpablein

evils the

among

inseparablefrom

commer

competition.

Another

point

of Trades

which

on

the

apprehensionon

Unionists

whicti

the

shared

and

and

diverted
other
of the

produce
the

from

persons.

other

of

the

When,
in his

those

who

I forbear
is

popular notions
for instance, a

business,and

mis

is

actually

produce it,to

in

enrich

present to speak

subjectapart.

But

with

business,there is

great deal of illusion.

invests
capitalist

draws

Labor

proportionsin

what

for the

as

country is really

of

respectto capitalemployed
the

is much

partisansof
the

to

amount

land, which

there

well
as
part of Socialists,

against Capital,relates

in

have

failed,commercial

and

ranked

is

run

infamous

the

dealing with

of

who

matter, and

among

unfortunate.

rational

and

not

to

those

by

the

closelyinto

who

many

he determined

from

it

an

"20,000
income

of

84

SOCIALISM.

"2,000
(suppose)
is

if he

as

of

not

have

derives

if he

an

from

income

optionof withholdingit
As

much

buildings,machinery,

What

one.

laid out in

the
is

so

keeping up

other

their

consists of

instruments

it

are

of
not

of any

produce.

their

For

only yieldsto

capitalitself

is

is

laborers,form

to

away

and

remuneration
of the

enjoyment

or

they have the capitaland

that the

of others.

renewing the buildings

or

ing

which
profits,

use

what
(including
applicable

instruments)is paid

poses

the

he

has not the

capitalas

support

and

division

long as

appliedto productionand

production,are
applicableto

As

capitalhe

and

own

did he would

also.

from

of his invested

condi-

it,and might

over

if he

year
his

on

the "20,000 to his

chose,but
a

truth,how

the "2,000

legalcontrol

the "2,000

of the

the laborers

The

wages.

applyingno part of

squander it

both

owner

"2,000, while

their

fie has the

use.

impression

common

is,that he only obtains

ever,

ton

of the

nothing but

own

year, the

the beneficial

was

and

"20,000

all

share

employed

the

personalpur

he
him

in

has but
on

in

the

condition

satisfying

85

SOCIALISM.

his

not

wants, but

own

the

proportionwhich
bear

to

the

him

part only belongsto

the

portionof

The

tal

merely

capitalis

as

since

of money,

produce

when

capitalobtains

productionexcept
of

interest

sent

years)about

Even

in this investment

sell out

at

low

maining

per

risks

remuneration

against loss.

cent,

of

On

may

of

nothing
Now

some

at

be

to

the
are

at the pre

much

for

per

cent.

little risk

some

being obliged to
commercial

crisis.

J per cent.,the
considered

capital,apart
the

of

owner

varied

there is

pricein

Estimating these

the

one-third

and

repudiation,risk

of

the interest

is
security,
not

three

many

"risk

by

capi

publicfunds, which

have

prices (which

capital.

falls to

capitalitself.

the

small

of

contributes

the best

to be

considered

the

in
capital

which

measured

he

share

owner

is all that

that

capitalist's

aggregate share

own

the

as

circulating

the

to the

of his

Even

the laborers.

to the

which

ratio

produce bears

share of the

The

profitsof capitalusually

itself (orrather
capital

portionof it)is

of

of laborers.

those

from

securityof

as

re

the

insurance
a

mortgage

86

SOCIALISM.

there

transaction

the

"

titles to land under

; the chance

of

having

great cost

in

law

securityat

to delay in
liability

when

even

the

principalis

income,
shares

it sometimes

as

in

hardly ever

the whole,

ment,

in the

as

dividend

case

the

sunk

and

shares

of the

not

be

had

sold

for

more

is lent

at

the

When

mere

yieldsa larger

the risk of

losing

Brighton Eailway,the
having been

to from

which

interest

capitalby mismanage

of which, after

per annum,

money

part,of

or

the

and

companies,the surplus

equivalentfor

an

realize

to

does, for example, by

other

railway or

safe.

exertion

bad

our

charges;

receiptof

independentlyof

money

is

the

this

in

but

considerablygreater risks

are

uncertaintyof

system of law
the

generally obtained,

is

cent,

per

6 per cent,

nothing to 1|

been

bought

than

high

about

rates

at

cent.,

per

120

could

43.

When

of interest

one

hears of,rates only given by spend

occassionally
thrifts and
of loss is
can

reason

needy
so

persons,

great that

be induced
is there

to lend

for the

it is because

few

who

to them

the

possess
at

all.

outcry against

risk

money

So

little
"

"

usury

87

SOCIALISM.

of the

one

as

classes.

Of the

facturer
his

grievousburthens

capitalno

set down

and

to the

from

capitalas

would

wages
obtains

and

beyond

3 per

losses when

they

occur.

doubt

if he is very

wages

of his

command

of

their

to

Of

great part

his

weekly
what

he

is insur

exposed to,

own

reserve

to

The

remainder

use,

but

those

cover

is pro

of his skill and

industry

superintendence.^^

successful

what

the other hand, he

out

the

in

business

these

extremely liberal,and quite out

are

proportionto

being

his

annually reproduced

of his labor of

able

them

losses he is

in

kept

remuneration

the wages

try would

cent,

be

can

were

among

addition

manifold

be

of

it is

from

of this to

inconsiderable.

requiresto

"

share

manu

cent,

If he

whole

obtains

3 per

safelybe appliedto

cannot

perlythe

the

be

againstthe

ance

the

already

to year,

year

about

capitalitself.

laborers, who
of his

in business

than

more

willingto give up

whole

working-

therefore,which
profits,

other person

or

the

of

the

same

skill and

if offered for hire.

runs

worse

employment;

risk than
that

of

indus

But,

on

that of

doing

the

88

SOCIALISM.

work

without

earninganything by it,of having

the labor and

not

anxiety without

that

say

the

drawbacks

that he derives

leges,or

positionwhich

ployer of labor,instead

of his

amount

by

his

lettingout

ent

the

the

advantage

priceof

remains

will

when

compared

the

/(.i

be

of

the

estimated
from

subtract

we

fair

em

superintend

not

losses
a

from

others ; but

to

must

the

some

others, and

compensation

skilled

what
superintendence,

doubt, considerable,but

be, no

the

to

yet,

capital of

entire

country, annually reproduced and

the

pensed in
appears

to

the whole
it would

ers

than

would

it is very

wages,
the

much

make

be made

machinery,or by

to the

share

less addition

by
the

than

and

of the
to

dis

that

it

were

labor
share

important invention

any

suppressionof

unneces

other
distributors/and
parasitesof
"

sary

smaller

popular imagination;

of it added

for

labor of both, grounded on

anxiety,skill,and

the market

in

services

the balance

from

deduct

the

of

skilled

do

privi

and
capitalist

great prizesalone,

gains

advantage

no

of

the

balance

him

makes

wages,/!

the

indus-

89

SOCIALISM.
..

try."

To

portionof

produce of industrywhich

the

capital we

remunerate

interest

earned

of

out

include

ductively spent
of

paid,

and

this nature

debts, which

is the

paid

the

cost

the

added

other

and

interest

self
"

the

tenure

debts

land

"

other

for

As

be

less
be

except so far

been
the

rent

spent in

productive
property

it

of land

by

have

said,

hereafter

varied

or

landowners

as

reserve,

past

of

landed
the

discussion

might

of

for

this must

have

may

appropriationof

question for
of

dangers,or
rulers,more

improvement

privateindividuals
this

the

on

of the land.

of

is

is burthened

itself. To

borrowed

remunerative

unpro-

produce

unproductiveconsumers

the money

powers

been

nation

its

by the nation

shared

former

is the interest of national

of
profligacy

folly or

the

to

has

for past difficultiesand

with

the

longer exists,and

of

capital. Of

as

is

no

out

course,

produce by

producing it,but

in

capital which

of

owners

which

that

the

stop

not

the

to

goes
at

must

capitalactuallyemployed
must

of the

complete the estimate,however,

in any

; for
manner

the

90

SOCIALISM.

property of the State, without

clared the

feringwith
which

might be

desirable,all the land

considered

the

right of property

the

is

of

product

inter

anything

in

human

de

labor

and

abstinence.
It seemed
of

the

desirable

Socialist

that the

Socialism

existingsta"eof societymight

/The present system

ceived.

Socialists

believe, hurrying

generalindigenceand
Socialism
suffered

they

can

save

under

are

not

the

tion.

tion of the
however

justice,would
afford
the

by

lower

towards

the

any

may
not
means

not,

into

us

present system
the

between

shock

by
so

the

their

as

which

only

great,but

are

contrary, the
diminu

the distribu

feelingof

labor,
natural

equalisation

mere

levels of remuneration

of

injustices

capitaland

large a

many

state

their slow

in
inequalities

produce

they

is

the

and

con
correctly

Theeyilsand

on
increasing;

/Moreover

be

slavery from

us.

generaltendency is

remarks

in order
exaggerations,

between

issues

true

discussion

these

question by

of 'Socialist

in abatement

begin the

to

fund
as

for

raising

Socialists,

91

SOCIALISM.

and

besides

many

There

is not

are
Socialists,

abuse

one

any

or

to

apt

suppose.

now
injustice

pre

vailingin societyby merely abolishingwhich

the human

would

race

is incumbent

What

happiness.

comparison between
society,with
them

affords the

of

pass out

of

on

is

us

different

two

view

into
suffering

systems

for

greatestresources

and

more

to

answer

this

is

questionto

work

no

other

is time

test

on

and

before

moral

is satisfac
us

for the

shall find

we

possibleof

is

we

experimental

an

I believe

if

difficult,

intellectual

itself out

scale, by actual trial.

that

And

usually thought,it

tory to reflect that there

ot

overcom

question more

dependentupon

conditions, than

01

determining which

ing the inevitable difficultiesof life.

find the

calm

the

practica

bilityor beneficial operationof Socialist arrange

;

but

grounds

of

ments

thajXthe intellectual
Socialism

deserve

the

and

moral

most

atten-

tive

study, as

affording in

of
guiding principles
to

the

cases

the

improvements necessary

give the present economic

its best chance/

many

system

of

society

C2

SOCIALISM.

THE

DIFFICULTIES
those

Among
kinds

two

There

who

of

are, in

call themselves

persons

be

may

first

the

SOCIALISM.

OF

Socialists,

distinguishes!.

place,those

whose

plans

'*-~".,-^.".

for

order of

new

which

in
society,

privatepro

perty and individual competitionare

seded

and

are

the scale of

on

ship,and

by

the'

of

this

other

to action

motives

would

appliedto

of
multiplication
character

Fourier,

and

the

such

the

are

an

more

Britain

Great

and

bolder

of the whole

by

And

their

somebody

the

and

of

philo

other class,
who

Continent

to

themselves

scheme

is the

productiveresources

central

one

ment.

Their

stroke.

country

systems of Owen,

be called the

may

Socialists,
propose

ary

as

product of

town

units
self-acting

sophicSocialists generally. The

are

or

entire

thoughtful

more

super

substituted,

villagecommunity

be

to be

than

of

revolution
a

much

management

of the

country

authority,the general govern

with

purpose
in their

this view

that

the

,--oine

of them

avow

working classes,or

behalf,should

take

possession

93

SOCIALISM.

of all the

property of the country,and

it for the

general benefit.

/Whatever

/ these

forms

two

of Socialism,the

evidentlyinvolve

that

it

can

be

sively,and

can

TTcan

things would

new

shown

the aim
the

provement,

for

most

carryingon

old

the

and

of
its

of subver

so

with

substitute

the

singlestroke,and

good realised

to

the

under

of
largepossibilities

form

whole

round

worked

of

order

capable of being

is to

extreme

the

ex

cultivation

It is not

plunge without

social life without

hitherto

at

and

engine

itself

of that

amount

present system,

alwavs

an

trial.

populationand

of reconstruction.

rule for

the

capabilities
by

in the natural

not, and

it had

exchange the

into

many

select

not, become

means

the other

difficultiesand

their education

as

It need

sion until

must

its

prove

to others

permit.

same

second

brought into operationprogres

be tried first on

tended

also

the

first of

former, too, has the great advantage

The

more.

difficulties of the

the

be

administer

motive

any

of the
of the
power

the social

im

preparation
problem

of

operationsof
has

which

machinery.

It

D4

SOCIALISM.

must

be

play

this

acknowledged
the

on

game

that

those

strength

privateopinion,unconfirmed

who

of their

existence

of their

misery

resisted

"

of other

would

have

must

the

on

of

instances

of

elements

if the

those

hand

and

united

form

quickly,and

it

holds

whole

in their

time

out

other, which

of Socialism

the

do it

hope

more

Socialism

typical

to

has

great

cautious
has

not;

promises to

the

do

enthusiastic

aspirationsrealised
blow.

however,
peculiarities,

form

the

the

of

at

their

recklessness

this scheme

of their
and

in

was

attributes, scarcely

professesto

i/f seeing the

own

attempt

confidence

serene

popularitywhich

what

because

ary

one

of preserv

St. Just, hitherto

reasonable

The

physical

frightfulbloodshed

ensue

to./ Nevertheless

up

and

the

people'ssufferingson

Robespierre and

came

comfortable

brave

that

wisdon

own

now

ex

forciblyde

only present means

would

ing it,and
and

have

own

yet by any

as

perimental verification^rwho would

prive all who

would

will be

of the
most

revolution

conveniently

95

SOCIALISM.

after

examined

have

the forms

both
The

the

considerations
been

of the

produce

duly weighed.

world
its

anythingapproachingto

could

present amount,

number

of its inhabitants,except upon

ditions:

abundant

ings,and
the

of

power

waiting a

maintainingthe

This

and

is inherent

must

fixed

for their

be
in

con

and

implements
is

the

and

necessitydepends
in the

In

and

employed

their families

elapsesbefore

completed

fruits.

largeaccumulation

the

laborers and

which

in.

two

production;

that
circulating,

and
buildings,

operationsare

of

time

considerable

time

present

undertaking long operations and

both
capital,

ing the

nor

costlymachinery,build-

instruments

words, there

other
of

other

attain

not

support anything approaching to the

and

to

common

the

in

dur

productive

products come
physical laws,

on

of

condition

human

life ;

the capital,
of production,
but/these requisites
fixed and

of the country (to which

circulating,

has to

be

added

tained

in

it),may

perty of those who

the

land, and

either be
use

all that

the

it,or may

is

con

collective pro

belongto

indi-

90

SOCIALISM.

viduals; and

piness. What
the

duction
that

of the instruments

; which

by

of

rightof

rules

to

Socialism

ship

be

must

owners

of the

no

each

to his

change
wholly

The

it.

the

the

by

familyas part

her

or

share

now

ornamental

private ownei

productive
their

on

of the

of their remuneration

is ; and

common

not

the

ground which

produce
to

for

ex

and

purposes,

and

individual

labors, as

as

fulfil

to

one's

any

dwellingonly,but
the circumstances

or

be

might

continued

bt

agri

joint account,
each

exclusive

example, might

exclusivelytheirs,while they

house

bodj.

community

enjoy,to give,or

to

land, for

other

of the

the

consumption; the

dwellingassignedto

their share

the

excludes

be cultivated

might

consequence

property of the community

and

cultural

of pro-

public act, performed ac

recieved,either

when

of the

means

it the

laid down

of

hap

members

produceamong

means

articles

these

of Socialism., is

and

carries with

the division

cording

yet

all the

of

human

to

is characteristic

jointownership by

community

of

conducive

is most

arrangements

question is, which

the

any

of the

97

SOCIALISM.

association allowed
of

purposes

The

enjoyment.

of Socialism is not that all

but that

distinctive feature
in common,

thingsare

productionis only carried

that

account, and

common

held

productionare

then
practicability

as

for

to the house

to be attached

the

upon

the

instruments

of

on

property,f Th"-

common

of Socialism,on

scale of

the

[
j
i

Owen's

Mr.

H. Fourier's

or

dispute.\The attempt to

admits
villages,

of

the whole

manage

no

pro-

x**~"^

duction

of

nation

by

central

one

organization
f***^ .x""
\

is

totallydifferent matter^ but

to four thousand

thousand

tolerable circumstances

any

would

easier to

be

The

stock company.

is,whether
as

manufacturingassociation

cultural and
two

mixed

this

efficient and

manage

of soil and
than

jointmanagement
as

of from

inhabitants under

many
be

questionto

successful

agri-j

is

climate
a

considered

likelyto

the managements

privateindustryby private capital.And

questionhas

to be considered

the

of
efficiency

and

that of the

to state this
a

the

in

double

directingmind,

simpleworkpeople.

questionin

joint

And

or

be
of

this

aspect;
minds,
in order

its simplest
form,we

will

IL,

98

SOCIALISM.

simpleCom

to be

of Socialism

the form

suppose

munism, -i.e.equal division of the produceamong

all the sharers,or,

of

still higher standard

making

of

nature

of the

merits

or

duty

differences

ferent kinds

the

for the

present postponed.
difference

and

under

case

of the

There

are

of

justiceor expedi

service

consideration

economy

the

supposed

of remuneration

degrees of

or

but

of

munity

the

the

individual.

considerations

allow

The

without

but

of Socialism,particularly
Fourierism,

do, on

ency,

Blanc's

accordingto

accordingto

nor

services of the

other forme
which

need,

difference of reward

any

Louis

apportionment of
justice,

according to difference

it

M.

according to

between

the

motive

system,the

direction

the person

or

who

Under

difference

between

and

the worst

under

the

which

be

powers

in

the present
the hands of

(or are

own

the
for)the capital,
responsible
the

may

be greatest in the

in
being entirely

persons

com

private property

would

directingminds.

the

to

of these

societyunder

Communism

for dif

best

personally

whole

benefit of

administration

the business

can

con-

99

SOCIALISM.

tinue to

be carried

persons

who

so

far

them

their self-interest

as

it with

share

to

except so far
of

sequent power

for the

and
efficiency

would

not

the

exist

would

managers

only

the association.
the interest
as

of these

great.
and

operations,

would
to all in
as

the

as

produce

the other members

remain
so

of

would

be

affairs

managing

largeas possible
; the

credit of the managers.

when
motives, especially
it varies

is much

others.
fect

and

But

utmost

of conscience,
and
public spirit,

incentives of
the honor

as

the dividend

to make

of the

sub

strong

best and

receive out of the

What

common

This

Communism

under

aud

mismanage

labor.

economy

equal dividend

same

of

to do their very

personalmotive

except

their
cripple

this may

employing

they

subordinates

detriment

as

or

induce
liberality

or

their

they suffer the whole

ment

administration

of good management
profit

the whole

reap

the

control

the person

to

accrues

on

The

degree of

verdict of
moral

some

force

combined,

is

different persons,

greatlyin

greater for

The

of

purposes

in
experience,

cultivation

which

than
the

for

imper

mankind

'

100

SOCIALISM.

have

yet reached,is that the motive

and

that

they

are

of credit

of

cases, much

and

stronger

pellingforces

are

"

est

energiesin

tions,

the
.xl'n.

ment

which

and

the

for the most

L

the

part

prospect

of

and

love of ease,

occupa

ever-presentin
and

induce

is
unexciting,

in itself dull and

betteringtheir
their

work

economic

own

family;

and

increase of exertion

of every

of its fruits,
the

is this

suppose

more

powerful

contrary

would

they now

are,

principlesof
solelyas
which

to

be

to

duty

and

action

motive/ To

imply
honor

than

acts
special

and

those sentiments

,'

the

correspondingincrease

with

ing

the full

unrelaxinglyto

of

for

constant
sufficiently

the

closer the connection

on

im

only induce

the

men

overcome

and; that

condition

as

depended

callingforth

found

themselves

apply

majorityof

pursuit of ordinary

has been

unflaggingto

to

for

of most

case

be

to

than

fluence of indolence
men

in the

restrainingthan

as

more

preventingwrong,

when

even
reput:.',ion,

strength,
are,

some

of conscience

that with
are

men

the
as

powerful

more

personal interest,not
forbearances
have

been

respect

exception-

101

SOCIALISM.

ally cultivated,but
lives ; which

whole

/It

regulationof

the

in
no

one,

"ind social

is not
feelings

will affirm.

I suppose,

of public
efficacy

be said that this inferior

may

inevitable
I

This

of

imperfecteducation.

to

admit, and also that there

their

is the result

"

quiteready

am

now

even

are

many

individual exceptionsto the generalinfirmity.

before these

But

or
jority,

beingsis
this is

into

even

will be

time
';

can
exceptions

pointsin

least successful ;

been

of human

difficultof all arts, and

of the most

of the

general education

are

ma

large minority,much

very

required.
/The education

one

one

into

grow

which

it"Jis hitherto

improvementsin

moreover

gradual

necessarilyvery

"

the future

because

the

present,and
set

they

train

can

themselves.
we

are

educated

imperfectionsof

invincible

an

generationis

limit to
their

,/We

must

operatingupon

the

be

therefore
select

population^hat personalinterest
time

be

vigorous

more

and

effective stimulus
careful

conduct

the

teachers

degree

pupils to

the

by

in

which

better

than
,

expeqiy,unless

portion of
will for
to

of the

the

the

long
most

industrial

102

SOCIALISM.

business
V

of

higher

""^\/

V It will

character.

be

teracts

its

end

own

the

by

often dishonest

and

Communism

would

business

would

in

formance

of

enforced

by

It

the

person'sduty

which

of this result

They
the

would

choice

function
them

them,

have

of

of the

him

its

to

increases

limited

any

so

has

of

time

per
to be

nearly
rules,

performance.

the

power

that

the

more

under

to fixed

probability
which

the

independent action.
authorityfrom

community, by

this would
if not

communities

hold their

course

might at

; and
even

is the

would

managers

of

or

much

the rather,as

be reduced

can

evil

probable,

bad

sanctions,the

easier it is to hold

circumstance

it does,
of

is

fall very
;

in such

external

This

deficient element, and

of routine

duty

givesto

source

absent.

general would

the dominion

each

be

coun

it

risks.

indeed, that enterpriseeither of

good kind

excess

stimulus

that

generally be

present the

at

its very

reckless and
under

that

said

greed orpersonal gain by

of

motives

than
sjociety

be

make

whom

withdrawn
it necessary

requiredby

their
from
for

the constitution

103

SOCIALISM.

of the

community, to

of

body

the

established

before

mode

making

of

change

which

the

The

concern.

body

mode

the

in

change

numerous

in their accustomed

change the

generalconsent

any

carryingon

of persuadinga
difficulty
a

the

obtain

of

trouble is often

to make

working,

01

great,and the
c

risk

obvious

more

have

advantage,would

thingsin

work, and

who

track.

choice

directlyinterested

in

have

minds

the average

to

by

the

the

determine

who

shall be the

be true \ and

that the

capitalist
by

on

But

other side that under

now

so

be

may

more

manager

as

the

it must

J
capital.
replied

capable
on

community,
be

the Communist

often

also,like

can

only place him

advantage

higherlevel.

and

expected\

of the

owner

inheritance

himself,this would
level of

same

theft--1

of greater \

managers

though it

community, appoint a

than

be

of birth,which

This may

the

of

success

said

"*

who

persons

practicalknowledge

produce

skill than the chances

the

Against this^,

of judgment, might
opportunities
on

than

great tendency to keep

their accustomed

it has to be set,that
are

their

to

on

the
not

the

system the

104

SOCIALISM.

be

often to

likelyvery

takingit.
a

for the management

qualified

most

persons

At

hang

back

much

very

eration than the other persons

business ; and

there

are

is

system

none

of

dividend
labor

as

other

any

longerhave

produce of

the chance

of

anxieties

of
proportion
the

less

foreseen

by

which

so

community's
would

way

no

from

capitalists
;

better off than

and
responsibilities

would

greaterthat
be

large

likelyto prefer

was
position.This difficulty

Plato
his

same

raisinghimself

much

mankind

onerous

proposedin
among

be

the

of it ; he

no

laborer, his

would

be

onlythe

into the class of

and while he could be in

other

the Communist

advantages would

member

receiver of wages

any

to his ambition

he could obtain

out of the

in the

which his function of

these

by him;
possessed

if he be

even

remun
larger

On
stepping-stone.

under

concerned

open

to
highersocial positions

manager

from

presentthe manager,

hired servant,has

would

as

an

to
objection

the

Republicof community

governingclass ;

he relied for

and

inducingthe

the

of

system

goods

motive

fit persons
**

*-.

cii

to

105

SOCIALISM.

take

themselves, in the

on

the

ordinary inducements,
government,
worse

would
the

have

most

persons

would

be

be

to

in the

main

which

depended

upon

management
the

undertake

to

of

motive

to the

competent

prompted

labors

being governed by

This, in truth, is the

men.

all the

of

and

cares

of

the fear

Avas

absence

office to

into less competent hands.

prevent it from falling
the motive

And

when

times

would

there

was

less

going to ruin, or

were

rule,expect

improvement

persons

eager

they hoped

for

of this

unless in the
to

try

kind

are

for 'the

general conduct

fitted for it

persons

they are

againstwhom

from

immediate

and

by

the

of inventors

device

very

not*

merely promoting

case

some

great and

over-sanguine temper

when

of

com

could

be called into action

to

in

only decid

even

this motive

stringentinducement

schemers

affairs of the

the

edly deteriorating.But
as

impressionthat by

an

competent management

munity

effectual at

probably be

or

which

fruits ; and

often

unfitted

by

imperfect judgment
of

affairs,while

preciselythe

the average

man

even

kind
is

apt

of '
to

106

SOCIALISM.

entertain

unable

overcome

to

the

persuadingthe
projectand
rnunistic

to

both

accept them

as

would

of

strikingout

all pro

paths and

new

and

seldom

making
uncertain

unattended

to great
risk, is generallyindispensable

improvements
mankind, and

in

the

even

to

state in the face

have

We

of

of mouths

number

operationof
of the
the

be, in

privatemanagement

advantages,which, though
with

Corn-

managers.

sacrifices for distant

immediate

be

adopt their

to

thus

than

favorable

often

of
preliminary difficulty

community

management

less
bability,
to that

they would

and
prejudice,

case

continual

of

existing

increase

of the

to be fed.

motives

association.

These, under

the

keeping up

thus far taken

stands in

condition

economic

the

upon
Let

only of

account

us

regardto

minds

consider

now

the

Communism,

managing

the

how

ordinaryworkers.
would

have

no

interest,except their share of the generalinter

est,in doing their work

cally. But

in this

than

they now

worse

honestly

respect matters
are

in

and

energeti

would

regard to

be

no

the great

107

SOCIALISM.

majorityof
paid by

producingclasses. These, being

the

fixed wages,

are

of their

direct interest

they have

in

interest

would

general
have

the

in

in

own

their work, that

the

far from

so

having any
of
efficiency

the

not

that

even

which

worker

every

Communistic

share

organization.

the inefficiency
of hired labor,the
Accordingly,
in

imperfect manner
real

of
capabilities

common

remark.

the

value,as

it tends

employment,
higher

risingto

But

under

that

than
to

other
the

composed

under

whose

each

to

be

in

favor

him

or

other

sub
not

are

ulterior advan
is

to

be

set

generalsentiment

person

of

for

of
possibilities

side

community,

sure

preferencein

ordinary labor,

of the

be

also

way

Communism

eyes

fol

posts, which

the

the

on

character

being without

positionof foreman,

open

of

obtains

are

highly paid

more

tages.

give him

There

sometimes

but

to

administrative

ordinate

only

the

is far from

sometimes

and

wages.

that

the

matter

laborers, is

It is true

being a good workman

its

it calls forth

which

of the

comrades

works, would

good

and

hard

108

SOCIALISM.

working,

and

unfavorable

lessness,and

only is this

not

In

waste.

ion of the workman

the

actuallyforbid
of

certain standard
the number

diminish

present system

but the

class often acts

opposite direction
societies

the

the case,

not

laziness,care

to

rules

publicopin
in

of

the

trade

some

their members

to exceed

lest they
efficiency,
of laborers

very

should

requiredfor

the

work; and for the

same

ly resist contrivances
this to

change from
would

son

other

have

person

as

for
a

state in

munism),
better.

would

which

interest in

an

industrious,skilful,and

be

be the

change

per

case

under

much

very

careful

Com

for the

cipaldefects

of the

of
efficiency

that the

present system
be

labor may

chief

advantages of Communism

may

be

with

every

The

rendering every

It is,however, to be considered

the

violent

economisinglabor.

(which would
possible

as

they often

reason

in

respect

corrected,and
in

prin

that

to

tLe

respect

obtained, by arrangements compatible

privateproperty and

Considerable

individual

improvement

is

competition.

already

obtained

109

SOCIALISM.

of it.
is

he turns

out

not

"

much

so

employer's vigilance
;
with

it the
is

opposed

it, as

is

the

is

the workman

contrary, strongly

which

good

utmost

would

he
be

able

is not

low
to

obligedto give

of

piece

earn

ascertain the

do, to

can

that

him

there

And

frequentpracticeoi

workman

price of piece-workso

think

(as they

employers,after usingpiece-workto
utmost

the

on

piece-work

for their dislike

it
alleged,

is

does

for laborers.

market

work

the
quality,

depend

of

means

reallygood ground

work, if,as

its

to

neither

often, on

diminishingthe

with

publicopinionof

class,which
to

quantity of

still has

security for which

carry

the

with

closelyconnected

admit

personal interest

workman's

the

this

By

of labor which

the kinds

in
by piece-work,

by doing
than

more

as

fix the

day

that

they

wages

for

ordinary work.
But

there is

piece-workf ;r
viz.,what

is

the admission

far

the

iiow

more

disadvantagesof

industrial
callet}/

of the whole

in
participation

completeremedy

the

body

hired

than

labor,

partnershir"Xof laborers to

profits,
by distributing
among

1 10

SOCIALISM.

/ all who

share

j centage

on

their

portion of
has

been

the

gains after
to the

abroad.

careful

the most

generalinterest
effect in

waste, it has
muneration

that

evident

share

of

of

success

when

other, on

system

leave
of

concern.

side

its

the

the

would

the death

or

at

in

re

the

It

is

indefinite
in

increase

the

laborers,short of
less than

personal interest
is

joint

checking

labor

of

admits

of

the

to

by

to the managers

It

senti

adopted.

even

arrangements become

concerns

the

and

exertion

indefinite

an

degree
the

such

of these

of

would

needful

; and

been

profitsassignedto

that which
the

it has

this

and

extension

the

all of them

descriptionof

which

in

on

this

in

materially increased

of every

concerns

enlisted

concern

zealous

very

fixed

both
efficacy,

regard by

promoting

per-

remuneration

employed

of the

or

capitalist.This plan has

It has

of the workmen

of

whole

certain

of admirable

country and
ments

in the form

work,

earnings,the

allowed

found

been

in the

some

retirement

in

the

likely that

common,

many

period

or

of the

chief'si

an

Ill

SOCIALISM.

pass,

into the state of

by arrangement,

purely co

operativeassociations.
It thus
motives

to

munism

has

reached
the

It has also

system, decide

be

not

may

respects

as

considerable

disad

disadvantageswhich

some

it,through the necessity

in

it lies of

which

decidingin

questionswhich,

arbitrarymanner

more

the

on

less

or

present

themselves, often badly

enough}

spontaneously.

It is

justone,

to

the

unless

But

work

this is

different

societyare

so

as

quantity,is so
ally propose

to

also is

very

unpleasantness. To
another,

certain

give equal payment

the many

iu every

under

simple rule,and

in the work.

Now

it is at

to be inherent

under

which

private property,while
heads

the

concerns

as

general body, Com

advantage

no

managing

seem

far

as

in the

exertion

under

vantage.

but

that

appears

very

kinds

share

imperfectjustice

of work

unequal in
these

required

hardness

and

against one

quality equivalent

difficult that
that

to all who

apportioned equally.

measure

make

aspectsa

all should

Communists
work

by

to

gener
turns

at

112

SOCIALISM.

of labor.

kind

every

complete sacrifice
division

the
are

indeed

the

of

this involves

But

of the economic

employments,advantages which

considerations

less,in the point of

that

work

view

of
productiveness
double

itself with

special capacities and

and

worker,

also

greater skill

and

fore,which
tribution

to it.

is deemed

would

disadvantage
further,it
to
justice

that

is still

demand

one.

every
one

kind

very

the

same

have

acquires

very

amount

of work

It

is

bodily,and

necessary,

of

from

unequal capacitiesof

insupportableburthen

other.

But

imperfectstandard

task

an

just dis

production.

and

is

by

considerable

work, both mental

one

the
the

of work

to
indispensable

respect of

People

worker

the

arrangement, there

The

probablybe
in

regardto

some

of
qualifications

rapidityin

confininghimself

for

reason

of employment enables
co-operation

to distribute

every

of the

neverthe

are

considerable,for the

very

the

(or rather

under-estimated)

are

by political
economists, but which

labor,

almost

advantages of

frequentlyover-estimated

counter

an

what

is a

therefore, that

light

to

an

there

113

SOCIALISM.

.should be

petent

work, and

ot

to

measure

lazyor

any

for

"worked

authoritycom

an

ordinary

the

grant exemptions from

to

amount

dispensing
power,

in

proportiontasks

to

As
capabilities.

long

who

selfish persons

there

as

like better

of these

frustration

the

fraud, and

will

be

an

affair of considerable

will

by

no

means

be

least, in

at

select

of

the

the

large residuum
in the

average

squabblesand
be

would
and

desirous
but

consider

personaland

social virtues.

such

be

persons

great

not

distribution

of

have

abatement

unanimity which
H

the

could

to

from

Communists

be

for

aver

but

greatly below

ill-blood which

of
the

plans

only them

not

some

of

persons

engendered by

whenever

These

composed

experiment;

of

attempts

successful.

communities

beings,and

favor

and
difticulty,

regenerationof societymust

age human

lie

to

little felt,for

be

earnestly

persons,

success

always

would

inconveniences
time

are

others than to work, there will l"e

by

frequentattempts to obtain exemptions by

or

some

the
the
Tl

it-

fail to
work

dealt with,

the

harmony

hope

would

114

be

SOCIALISM.

found

tion.

the

among

That

concord

would,

than

disturbance
institution

about
quarrelling
ism

is excluded

But

there

institutions

from

that

department

it: there

rivalry for reputationand

selfish

field in

for

most

the

that

in the

bitterness

when

their

For

tion.
a

from

it,and

we

chieflyexer

fail to exhibit

of

attractive

driven

that

reasons

association
the

be

and

for

great

personal passions,diverted

various

Communist

expect

may

would

ordinary channel, are

these

the

greater intensityto

management
the

still be

pecuniary interest,

in
gratification
principal

their

that

to

no

personal power.

struggles for pre-eminence

influence

from

itself with

still open

the domain

no

of affairs.

will

it

men,

that of riches and

cises itself,
betake

be

which

excluded

is

ambition

which, with

it would

shall

there

departmentsfrom

exclude

can

The

suppose.

interests ; individual

material

other

are

that

most

liable to

more

Communists

provides

the

in

even

circumstances,be much

fortunate

When

of their associa

members

other

it is

would

to seek
direc

probable

frequently

picture of mutual

115

SOCIALISM.

love and

unity of

by Communists

often told

:"ften be torn

broken

by

expect,but would

to

dissension

are

we

and

unfrequently

not

it.

by

up

Other

feelingwhich

will and

and

numerous

of

sources

discord

are

in the

inherent

necessitywhich

the

Communist

involves,of decidingby
principle
voice

questionsof

every

one,

and

As

case.

education.
with

on

the

upon

not

only for

vidual
than

because

those

and
intelligence

citizen,they have
any

their

societies

educational

Communism
he made

other

for every

since individual

the

subjectof

traininggiven to
which

reasons

their
of any

on

being

other

moralityof
even

indi

at

stake

more

the

by

system

the

excellence
Now

arrangements would
citizen

apply

demands

arrangements.

these

be

decide, each for his

the

the

can

to

stronglyimpressed

are

of
all-importance

greater than
the

to

example, take

an

universally,but
much

the present system

All Socialists

the young,

importance

utmost

left to individuals

are

own

which

the

general

the

under
have

the collective

parents, supposing them

of

to

body,

to pro-

116

fer

SOCIALISE.

other

some

would

have

their

be limited

what

to

member

equal voice

in

fruitful

the

benefit of

had

tion.

All who

to the

education

any

have

to

by
But

have

an

collective system

Here, then, is

all.

associa

opinionor preferencea,-.

they would

children,would

would

body

of discord in every

source

do

influence.

determining the

the

designedfor

of

for it,

paying

they could

personalteaching and

own

ever}7 adult

most

of

private means

no

would

and

educatingtheir children,

of

mode

desire

rely

for their

for their

own

chance

oi

/""

the influence

obtainingit upon

jointdecision

cise in the

It is needless

of the

specify a

to

they

number

body

with

likelyto

which

might

evil to the
sive

of

em

relations

01

which

associations,
"c.,on

often irreconcilable,
would
opinion,

difference of
be

mode

the
of social life,

other

of other

of the associa

ployingthe productive resources

the

exer

community.

important questions affectingthe

tion,the conditions

could

arise.
be

But

expected

the

even

would

be

dissensions
a

prospects of humanity than

unanimity produced by

the

far less
a

delu

of
prostration

"

1
117

SOCIALISM.

all individual

opinionsand

decree of the

majority.The

wishes

of favorable

them

; but

ous

that

circumstances

is, that human

being overcome
iiave freedom

a
require

to

to

of

nature

in

peopleshould

both

thought and
think

for

their /

should

in
expand spontaneously

directions,both

con

overcome

condition
indispensable

an

the

obstacles to human

are
always great,and
progression
currence

before

vari

practice;
themselves

and

try experiments for themselves,and should

not

resign into the

of

hands
few

acting in the

name

the business

of

how
scribing

they shall act.

associations
most

or

privatelife

But

would

unexampled degreewithin

for the

lining

there

developmentof

individual

progressivebranches

the

and

pr"P

of

broughtin

the dominion
be

of

less scope

character anil

has hitherto existea

state

belongingto

of the human

all societies the

viduality
by

be

individual

than
preferences

majority,

in Communist

would

tlio full citizens of any

Already in

of the

thinkingfor them,

and
publicauthority,

the

of rulers,whether

family.

compressionof

indi

majorityis a great and growing

118

SOCIALISM.

evil

it would/

Communism/exceptfar
so

individuals

of

power

selectingto belong
like-minded

From
seek

to

to

best

these

various

draw

any

an

open

the

I think

mankind.

bounds

of persons

the

gradually effected

do

time

will

that this is,and

both

long be,

trial of

by

favorable

working

certaintyis,that/Communism,

will be

of the exist

tellectual

education

in

to be

of both
all the

part honestlyand

of life under

no

moral

but

and

their

in

of the

members

in
energetically

inducement

one

successful,

to qualify them
communityv^moral,

their

the

circum

which

improvements

standard

of

light will

fresh

which

in the

society

circumstances

and

wants

of

form

the

ing system, that of privateownershipL The

requiresa high

not

production is capable

principleunder
by

by

against the possi

inference

continuallybe obtained,

stances, and

it

to

considerations

question,upon

Communistic

in the

might be

it

community

future

some

adapted to

greater under

themselves.

with

being at

as

set

to

bilitythat Communistic
of

much

probablybe

for

doing

the labor
share

in

Ill)

SOCIALISM.

the

general interest of the association,and

of duty
feelings
to
tellectual,

and

make

sympathy
them

distant interests and

bad.
is
as

Now

is

implied in

heritance
am

matters, good counsel

education
these

of every

convinced

the passage

it is very

that
to

only be slow.

it from

our

I admit

the
which

munism

depends,the present

sociation

can

that

the

only

train
effectually

It is for

munism.

be made

sufficiently
high

alone

make
next

level of

generationamong

necessary

to

If Communist

keep

up

com

of

the

moral

as

for Com
prove,

giving this

show

can

whether

populationa

cultivation
to

themselves
that

that

societyis

then, to

succeed, and

Communism

but I

Communistic

mankind

portionof

in any

yet

as

of

of

state

by practical
experiment,its power

there is

the in

nation

success

Communism,

training. Experiments

such

presentcondition can
pleathat in the points

education

and
demoralizing,

that it

and
difficult,

of moral

on

notion

the

in

from

cultivation

and

thingsto

person

con

to be able to dis

rejectaltogetherthe

impossiblefor

it ; in

enteringinto complex

these

towards

capable of estimating

at least
siderations,
sufficiently

criminate, in

their

give

to

to

the

the education

high level permanently.

associations show

that

they can

be

120

SOCIALISM.

durable and
will

of the

become

But

life.

the

force

to

if

even
societies,

the

tion gave
would

fitted

in

end

portions
countries

that mode

for

of

unprepared populationsinto

Communist

advanced

more

morally

ana
multiply,

successive

adopted by

populationof

they

as

be

probably

will

they

prosperous,

make

to

power

revolu
political

s/uch an

attempt*

disappointment/
X

"
^

If

trial is necessary
practical

bilities of
those

Communism,

other

the difficultiesof Communism

them.

surmount

to

The

of

attention
the
or

contrive

principalof
if

only as

means

these

There

which
difficulty

specimen
of the

is

scarcelyan

Fourier

he did

not

did

make

not

objection
forsee,and

provisionbefore

hand

contrivances,grounded, how
by self-acting

ever,

upon

iustice than

less

that

of
inequalities

of
high principle

of Communism,

distribution and

but
ship of capital,
it.

The

is how

not

the

make

labor

distributive

since he admits
individual

owner

arbitrarydisposalof

great problem which

to

is

student, either of societyor of

any

againstwhich

recognize

ingenuity,is highly worthy

mind.

human

requiredfor

which

and

Fourierism, a system which,

of intellectual

less

no

Socialism

of

forms

it is

to test the capa

he

grappleswith

attractive,since, if this

'

121

SOCIALISM.

could

of Socialism
done,the principal
difficulty

be

would

be

He

overcome.

of useful labor

is

pugnant, unless
of

devoid

the

emulation,
The

tempt.
to

or

either

the
one

person

member

every

of

the

such

produce

shares

of labor

great

of the

as

to others ; if any

tions among

three

among

to each the

assignedto
the

The

"

in

amount

if there

is too

it is

sign

relatively
remunera

share of

is divided

elements

capable

the remainder

neglectedtheir

suffragesof the

hoped that

only of

not

different groups,

more

no

higher.

each group

the

work, and

over-remunerated

assignedto

by

the

are

be made

talent ; the part

of

particular
groups
are

each

groups,

certain minimum

societydivides

it finds attract

upon

con

villageare

community, whether

among

that those groups

tion must

and

apart for the subsistence of

required,and
run

or

with

member

number;

set

of labor,the

not

mankind

different kind
be

amount

Fourierist

kind

no

companionship

spontaneouslyin

may

having first been

or

in

but of any

group

of

regarded by

undertaking a
same

in

excessive

stimulus

workers

that

universallyre

necessarilyor

class themselves

group

maintains

produce

in fixed propor

and
labor, capital,

talent

group

varietyof

being awarded

and
itself,

human

it is

capaci-

122

SOCIALISM.

nearlyall,will

ties all,or
some

other.

or

group

tal is to be

such

The

individual

increase

common

desired.

The

trivances

for

of minor

markable.

By

sonal

interest,instead

certain

more

than
so

exertion

to

of

of

it is now,

much

at

when

expect,would

saving of

labor would

to useful

occupationsthat

things useless

the

buying

and

choice

of individuals

would

be

no

of

further

the

would

be

be much
of

increase

of

reward

positionhave

the

by diverting
prodigious,
which

is

wasted

now

by dispensing

superfluousdistributors,
the whole

community
The

single agency.
as

re

public

unexampled, while

sellingfor

being managed by

very

that the per

would

hurtful,and

number

the vast

with

be
be

or

con

of labor,they
efficiency

therefore

on

the

present,since every

accidents
The

influence.

if

provisions

away,

rendered

leading to

to

point as

for

taken

being

capi

and
difficulties,

minor

Fourierists

of the service

increase

such

ingenuityof

greater than

much

to

of these various

means

i.

order

inconveniencies,is

inducements

made

and

expectationof

it is the

for

consumption,in

meeting

getting rid

excel

sufficient to induce

stock

number

to
qualified

remuneration

is found

as

savingsfrom
the

be

to

their

manner

interfered with

than

free
of life

would

SOCIALISM.

be necessary

for

the

co-operationin

industrial

the pictureof
together,
Is both

humanity than
and

the

should

scheme

alone

The

result of

the

various

ductive

of

has

led

schemes

system

desired that

fair

trial which
of

the

of

of them

may

that

things,but

they

the

conclusion
the

case

for

but

the

especially that

curious

inquirer

will

eventuallyestablish
the

are

pro

country by public

at

present

entitled

La

do

to

well

trial,
their

existingorder

forth and
M.

Destinee

study

of

workable

The

Considerant,

diffi

various

of Fouriemm
are
clearlyset
principles
powerfullydefended in the various writings of
*

new

any

managing

have

preferenceover

to

the
to

us

for

privateagency

some

of

review

resources

instead

claims

that

workableness

our

culties of Socialism

and

to be

from

of social life.*

scheme

that

community

other known

any

have

the

test

can

operations.Al
requiresless

it is much

of Socialism

advantages of

Fourierist

in itself and

attractive

common

full

gaining the

Victor
Sociale

them

in the

writings of Fourier himself ; where he will find unmistakable

with
the
wildest and most
proofs;of genius, mixed, however

respectingthe physical world, and much

interesting but rash speculationon the past and future history
that on
to add
It is proper
some
of humanity.
important
for instance
on
social questions,
marriage,Fourier had pecu.
unsc:eutifie

fancies

opinions,which, however, as he himself declares,are

of
independent of, and separable from, the principles
liar

dustrial system.

quite
his in

124*

SOCIALISM.

their power

prove

Jlite of mankind, and

the

only by
to the

state

pose.

Far

of

which

improvement

large

at

they

may

this

which

aims

of course,

yet

trainingmankind

of

more,

have

presup-

said of

be

""*!

the

ambitious

more

plan

possessionof the whole

country, and
it

beginning

the

on

public

consideration
sors,/

the

is

centre
ventures

of

of

propose
it

hardly

can

it than

over

power

tions,each
tion of

so

of

to

small

be

that
made

of

Socialist

to

best

it could

or
only by locality,

we

taken

property

the

have

into

find

thrown

por

administra
The

pro

BfcNfr-to be

populationwell

be

if

that

exercisingtheir

community.

select

pared beforehand, would

as

to

over

it should

would

dividing it

management, which

difficult even

solved

the whole

of

nobody

their imme

disposal,
they

practicablemode

single

doubted

attained

and actuallyhad
object,

other

blem

be

whole

the

in which

mode

any

of the country at their

no

present posses

conducting

revolutionarySocialists

diate

the

all

from

Apart

account.

idea

administer

to

once

country by direction from

be done 3 and
the

at

the

capitalof

obviously chimerical, that

so

to

and

to
injustice

very

industryof

land

taking

at

down

pre
to

be

by aggregationsunited
from
indiscriminately

125

SOCIALISM.

population,includingall the malefactors,all

the

the idlest and

vicious,the

most

of
incapable

most

and
self-control,
or
steadyindustry,
.forethought,

majority who, though

yet,in

are

far

as

the

opinionof

such

disastrous

conditions

could

failure, and

its

only the consolation

it

who

benefit

mon

ruin

would

"

of the

the

have

it would

of

have

societyas
all

and
perishedfirst,
be involved

consolation- which

effect but

no

to

in the

com

of them

some

if appearances

can

the

animatingprincipleof too many

revolutionarySocialists is hate ; a very

excusable

tem

have

could
apostles

probably be real^for

be trusted

vent

by

of Socialism

that the order

would

exists

now

by

saying but

is

the introduction

that

say

society.It

of

state
existing

under

for the

Socialism,profoundlydemoralised

of

little to

Socialists themselves.

essential
regardsthe qualities

as

success

the

equally degraded,

not

hatred

itself by

Kosraos,

of chaos

in the

and
any

more

end to the present sys

to those who

even

that out

would

existingevils,which

puttingan

at all costs

hope

of

would

suffer

by it,in

arise

better

impatienceof desperation

gradualimprovement. They

Respecting
re

unaware

that chaos is the very most

ble

for setting
out
position

in

fa

Kosmos, and

ages

that many

the

unfavor-

construction

of conflict,
vio-

12G

SOCIALISM.

tyrannicaloppressionof

lence,and

intervene

the strong must

they

would

nature

so

mankind

plunge

forciblydescribed

every
"

man

of

(Levia
is enemy

man

:
"

there is no

In such condition
the

try,because

fruit

thereof

ported by

sea,

instruments

of

indus

uncertain,and
earth,no naviga

of the commodities

use

placefor
is

culture of the

no
consequently

tion,no

every

that

state

Hobbes

by

by

not

into the

where
than, Part I. ch. xiii.),
:o

weak

know

they

the

that may

be

im

commodious

no

moving

building,no
removingsuch things

and

requiremuch force,no knowledge of the face

of time, no
of the earth, no
account
arts, no
is worst
of all,
letters,no society; and, which
continual fear and danger of violent death ; and
the life of man
solitary,
poor, nasty,brutish,and
as

short."
If the
a

poorestand

so-called civilised

dition

of

as

every

societyare
would

one

it does
civilised life,

same

would

miserable

be to reduce

On

the aid of the first who

others have
is
cess

only by

that it may

the

hoped

raisino- the remainder.

form

dissolution
the

of

way

to

to

the

all others

the

risen that

in

so

time

the
to

by

many

general lot,and

organizationof
be

con

the contrary,it is

have

escapedfrom
better

bad

as

follow that

not

state.

in

of

members

be in that worst

produced by

barbarism

raise them

wretched

most

same

succeed

it

pro
in

127

SOCIALISM.

THE

IDEA

PROPERTY

PRIVATE

or

VARIABLE.

BUT

precedingconsiderations

The
to show

that

fabric, such

the
establishing

economic

constitution

basis,other

entirelynew

an

upon

of the

social

contemplated by Socialism,

is

as

sufficient

appear

renovation

entire

an

FIXED

NOT

of

than

society
that

however
privateproperty and competition,
able

as

mate

ideal,and

an

is not
possibilities,

to

it

since

resource,
are

even

qualitiesboth
requireto
and

most;

the

be tested

Parliament, but

be, on

must

if in any

to

government,
violate
would
them

the

in

done

or

brought

plainreason

that

by

the

back

in

Act

of

favorable

most

time.

of

the field ; and

they might

institution
be

were

revolutionary

ways

either

For

individual

popularmovement

many

would

things

created
an

principleof

private property, the

survive,and

present
whcT
those
a

of

to be

at the head

in however

ulti

intellectual,which

possessionof

country

placeSocialists

order

of considerable

come

property will be
even

be

cannot

as

from

all,and

in

a work
supposition,

long periodto

available

and

valu

prophecy of

new

moral

this

requires

on

carry

as

of

itself

accepted by

for the
by their expulsion,

people will

not

lose

their hold

128

SOCIALISM.

of what

is at

present their sole reliance for sub

sistence and
beeen

the

had

shared

property of others would

in the

hands

new

But

term

was

what

keep

to

property

they had

which

these

individual

reasons,
a

long

that

it must

it,if

not, there

are

exist

unmodified, or that

pro

before

term

only of provisionalexistence,we

whole

what

desire to

give back

to

presumably

fore,to conclude

those, if

the old.

though, for

perty has

Even

the sacredness

recognisedin

for it has

themselves

among

they had acquired,and

not

substitute

got into working order.

who

any,

securityuntil

during

all the

that

rightsnow

regardedas appertainingto property belong

it

On

inherently,and

contrary, it

the

of

interest
benefit

from

those

tial consideration to
those

laws

in any

ity. This, which

to

to

bring the

of
all

an

it endures.

and

duty

the

the

direct

most

property to give impar

proposalsfor rendering

less

would

to the

onerous

in any

case

be

major

an

obli

injunctionof prudence
in

place themselves

againstthe attempts
quent

the

derive

way

is
gationof justice,

also, in order

is both

who

the laws

while

endure

must

to

which

are

Socialist forms

maturely into operation.

sure

of

the

right

to be

fre

societypre

"r
129

SOCIALISM.

of the mistakes

One

the

which

are

errors

in human

the

committed,and

greatestpractical

of the

sources

that
is that of supposing
affairs,

name

same

uftenest

always

stands

No

word

of
aggregation

ideas.

subjectof

of this kind

more

for the
has

o/misunderstanding
in every

state of
use

accords,or which

things-^andsome

over

persons)which

over
times, unfortunately,

law

custom, in. that

but these
society,
recognizes/;
sive

control

and

use

greatlyin
states of

For

of exclusive

societythe largestpowers

exclusive control

or

are

the

been

the word. property. It denotes

than

same

very

the

state

of

of exclu

powers

various,and ditier

different countries and

in difierent

society.

the
instance,in early states of society,

rightof property did not include the rightof

of propertyby
bequest. The power of disposing
will was
in most
countries of Europe a rather
late institution ; and long after it was
intro
duced
were

to be limited

it continued

Where

called natural heirs.

permitted,individual property
interest.

And

in

fullyset

forth

by

instructive work
I

fact,as
Sir
on

in favor of what

bequestis not
is

has been

Henry

Ancient

Maine

only
so

well

life

and

in his most

Law, the primitive

130

SOCIALISM.

idea

of

property
the

family,not
family had
v"vho

not free

and

could

assignment

to him

togetherafter

eldest

of the

selected

by

the

retainingtheirs
body

these

took

I say

the

broke

of his share, as
If the

was

of the
his

the

property
of the

and

by
the

the

story

association

kepi

in

head, some
son,

but

to

othei

often

the

the

the
one

manage

the

others

into separate families,each o"

with

of

If,on the oth?r hand

before.

it

property,not

the process

By

the

all
managing righx;1,

away

the

deprive them

property

rest,succeeded

up

was

he could not

the consent

of the

alvays

as

he

to defeat

family,the strongest,or

and to the

ment

But

the

the child could

cases

the death

of it,noi

member

to

without

Prodigal Son.

the

as

nations

some

division

person

of the succession.

be alienated

not

la\v demand

the

of

customs

the

governed

portions;

property as

children ; in other

male

of

his power

jointenjoyment or

iaws

this, he

the other

the

of

the

was

the

proprietaryrights. As

in

to exercise

so

disposeof

'he

and

head

nearlydespoticpower.

of
co-proprietors
"

the

belonged to

The

management

respects,so

familywith

it

individual.

reallyexercised

other

in

the

that

was

mere

part

the

of the

property.

inheritance,because

continuance

of

existing

131

SOCIALISM.

rights,not
share

alone

of

creation

lapsedto

new

immovables

over

in

rude

perty

cession ;

duration.

stock
surmise

Jewish

to

that

In

the

the

ownership

than

ment
gross
limit.

the

varying

temporary

share

been

of

countries

share

to

ed of

the

rightsof

an

up

the

successfully

land,

among

as

to
we

The

law.

the

some

several distinct

rightto

government

heavy

rent.

Ancient
govern
of

particularfraction

might
then

collection

state, but

not

and

was

make
became

no

over

the

fixec^
its

possess

all the

those of any

by
part

was

limited the

laws

individual,who

right of

rather

determined

government

the

of

we

Asia, before

in

there
produce,but practically
The

though

The
phrase,is strictly
applicable.

ancient
to

con

to the

it returned

have

pro

intervened, nothing existed

by

even

law

historical times

rightswere

having
and

of very

redistributed

broken

was

whose
parties,
custom

property

expression property

understand

ideas

in

many

ideas

European

owner,

be

of

Jewish

only

was

state this rule may

evaded.

which

the

By

the Sabbatical year

on

common

may

(theprincipalkind

in immovables

manager's

proprietaryrights

to

age) these rightswere

and

extent

the

the association.

Then, again,in regard

"

other

private

'.32

SOCIALISM.

connected

person

on

such

or

rent

by

the

the substitute

there
rights,

rightsof

who

government

though

bound

to

collected, after

for

to

over

pay

deducting

cases

its

by custom,

employing

shared

either

others

rights in

those

of

the

with

officersof

government

all

they

percentage, were

There

also,in

were

of the first settlers of

among

themselves

the

those

cultivate
land

themselves

it for

them,

approached

as
proprietor,

of any

either

the

rules established

cultivatingit
to

landed

England, than
But

persons
were

produce accordingto

whose

transferred

villagecommunities, consistingof

reputed descendants

or

state,or

large districts,who,

many

land

agree

collected the state's share of the

hereditary officers.

who
village,

the

and

There

extent.

often

the

they paid

neighborhood.

intermediate

sometimes

produce,

while

the state had

were

various

possession
; it

of the

cultivators

to whom

long settled

generalfixed by

custom

the actual

Between

in

been

them

private

actual culti

retain

right to

not

These

The

had

as

to evict

rent

"

ment, but

its

held unlawful

the

kinds.

of them

the land, had

was

the soil.

of various

rightswere
vators

with

or

and

nearer

to

understood

in

other party concerned.

proprietaryright of

the

villagewas

not

183

SOCIALISM.

individual,but collective ; inalienable

of

individual

with

gaged

sharers
the

of the

consent

fixed

governed by

held

all land

tenure

of service,either
in

vices

was

Britain

Great
well

as

sovereign have

law

for

commuted

been

does

land

in

property

holder,is

but

sia,even

when

serfs of

the

the

belongingto

And

tinental

land

well

as

out
as

those

serfs remained

as

reforms
consisted

of

in

Stein

and

rightof
the fullest

law, the

the

or

the

theory of

free

In Rus

soil

were

with

which

of the

he

in

could

countries

had

of

not
con

abolished

serfage was
who

theirs

body managing

cultivated

or

the

possessionof rightsas

subjectto obligations.The
of

the

disuse

into

by rightsof

collective

when

of use,

rights of

of the Crown.

limited

in most

Europe

the

to

ser

his proprietary
proprietor,

and
own|^affairs,

interfere.

went

them

the

absolute

an

cultivators

was

sovereignon

individual

any

landed

right in the land

its

taxation, the

tenant"

"

and

Europe

when

fallen

since

in

the

reserved

proprietorknown

landed

mediaeval

now,

acknowledge

not

mort

or

militaryor agricultural
;

even

long

sold

community)

from

all the

as

In

rules.

almost

and

only be

could

(the rights

his

successors

abolishing both

the

great land
in

Prussia

rightsand

the

134

SOCIALISM.

and
obligations,

proprietorand

the

tween

of them

leaving each
the

In

whole.

is

him

to

half the gross

if

tries,so

also

things.

In

tended

and

still

though I

are

only now

Public

property

before the Revolution; there

they will

of the present holders; and

abolishingproperty

still claim

right of property
in

Britain,

by operation of

cease

bodies, constituted

have

public

multitude

vast

ex

human

in

patent offices in Great

publicpurposes,
viduals

time, and

ownership of

and
judicialoffices,

the death

on

to the

has often been

few

coun

different

over

former

same

the rightof property

still,

extends

believe

law

different

in

at

the

over

they exercised

of others in France
are

fulfils the

he

of his tenure.

all countries

trusts, as in

law,

not

possessionand

rightsof property

There

beings.

Tuscany, the

produce, so long as

are

of

right over

though

permanent

countries

some

in

as

cases,

of different extent

thingsare

in

limited

custom,

customary conditions

Again

bodily be

virtuallyco-proprietorwith

landlord, since

guarantees

land

the peasant, instead

with

other

farmer

metayer
the

dividing the

in

in

and
the

endowed

rank.

for

inviolable

same

their estates

theirs, and

army

we

which

though

indi
sound

135

SOCIALISM.

political
moralitydoes

supports it. We

claim,the law
the

held

tained

places;

of it is

which
of

progress

fication in the

to the

change
The

of

brief

with

human

the

on

proprie

public and

the
is

idea

not

mind;

at

good

no

the

proposed

of

property.

some

like

con

thing,

one

incapableof
all other

any

crea-

given

time

expressiondenoting the rightsover

givensocietyat

their

say that

is variable

thingsconferred by
pointnor

to

modi

or

thingsby

over

throughout history and

of the
a

change

some

merely to

property

alteration,but
tions

the

maintained,

generalimprovement,it is

this

identical

is

exercised

powers

conflicts

idea

it

therefore,

be beneficial

tors would

to

stil

of

undergone in

legallyrecognisedas

persons

answer

been/

been improve
societyhave generally

rightlyor wrongly,that

ducive

admit

may

it has hitherto

When,

ments.

conception enter

has
varying conception,
and

It is also to be noticed that th"

further revision.
revisions

the

that

frequently revised,

of

that

see

extent,in different

of different

to be

and

times

it is

thus

interpreted,
rightof property is differently

and

the

acknowledge this

not

any

given time

the

that

time

other
and

law

or

custom

[/out neither

has

place a

the

law

claim

and
to be

of
on

some

this

custom

stereo-

136

SOCIALISM.

typed

for

is not

customs

its

ever.

proposedreform

the

human

by

of

of pro

improvement

they

as

be

compen

legalrightsof
be

may

That

publicadvantage.

of

to
prejudice

to
proprietors

the state for such

prietarynature
for the

and

This is said without

affairs.

sated

existingidea

growth

claim
equitable

the

the

adaptationof

adaptationof existingideas of

the

to

property

the

imply,not

affairs to

perty, but

or

because
necessarily
objectionable

adoptionwould

all human

in laws

pro

of
dispossessed

equitableclaim

"

the

the

groundsand

and
jectby itself,
this

Under

after.

fullyentitled
right
ation

of

to

\/
\

chance

abrogateor
on

alter any

of the

by

which

being

beneficial to that

the
made

full

are

consideration

institution
to work

in

may
a

public

which,

case

againstthe present economic

out

of

particular

sufficient consider

chapter,Socialists

former

sub

societyis

ve?,

we

assuredlythe terrible

society, demands
means

condition,ho

it,
judges to stand in the way

in

\.
\ I

of it,are

such will be discussed here

property which

And

make

as

just lirr ts

manner

as

able to
order

of

of

all

have

more

largeportionof societywhich

l\ at present enjoys the

least

benefits.
THE

END.

share

of its direct