CHAPTER X: The Impotence of Socialism

what remains of Socialism, then, when we come to close quarters with it? And what are the future prospects of this policy of spoliation and of tyranny?

The Socialist party cannot balance up a governmental majority without destroying government itself, for it cannot admit that government fulfils the minimum of its duties. When a strike breaks out, the intention of the strikers is that security of person and of property shall not be guaranteed; and they have been preceded, supported and followed in this by certain Radicals who, when put to the test, have been obliged to commit acts such as they have violently laid to the charge of preceding governments. Socialist policy represents contempt for law, and all men, whether rich or poor, have an interest in liberty, security and justice, for the private interest of each individual is bound up with these common blessings. Socialists despise them all.

A law, the object of which is to protect each man's property, is supported by all who possess anything, and where is the man in advanced societies who is incapable of being robbed because he possesses nothing?

A law, the object of which is to despoil a portion of the citizens of a State, unites in opposition to it all those against whom it is directed and those whom it alarms, for they are afraid that it may extend to them. It has not even the support of those for whose benefit it is made, for only a very small number obtain a direct benefit; the great majority only experience disappointments, and cause the feelings of envy and rapacity which procured the demand and approval of such a law to recoil upon those who have benefited by it.

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A law of spoliation may be passed and carried into effect, but in the event of its results becoming permanent, it runs the risk of destroying the government which has assumed the responsibility for it.

Socialist policy is a permanent menace to the liberty and security of citizens, and cannot therefore be the policy of any government, the primary duty of which is to exact respect for internal and external security. If it fail therein, it dissolves and is replaced by anarchy; and inasmuch as everyone has a horror of that condition which betrays itself by the oppression of violent men, banded together solely by their appetites, an appeal is made to a strong government and to a man with a strong grip, and the risk is incurred of falling back into all the disgraces and disasters of Cæsarism.

There are three words which Socialism must erase from the facades of our public buildings—the three words of the Republican motto:—

Liberty, because Socialism is a rule of tyranny and of police.

Equality, because it is a rule of class.

Fraternity, because its policy is that of the class war.

the end

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the wessex press, ltd.
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1

“The Book of Fallacies.” Introduction. Sect. I.

2

See infra, Book III., chap. 3.

1

See infra, Book I., chaps. ii. and v.

2

Carl Pearson, “Ethics of Free Thought,” p. 324 (quoted by Robert Flint, “Socialism,” p. 334).

3

See infra, Book IX., chap. iv. M. Desliniéres is the author of the Code Socialiste.

4

Communist Manifesto, vol. ii., p. 178.

1

1907.

2

“The Social Democratic Federation: its objects, its principles, and its works,” 1907.

1

“The Reformer's Year Book,” 1909, p. 27.

2

See the article by Mr. Cox (“Socialism in the House of Commons”) in the “Edinburgh Review” for 1907.

1

Yves Guyot. “La Dèmocratie individualiste.” Sir Henry Maine, “Ancient Law.”

1

”The Star,” February 10th, 1905.

1

Infra, Book VIII.

2

Lindley, The Trade Union Congress.

3

“The Times,” September 1st, 1909.

4

A Spanish casuist who advanced the proposition that “good intentions justify crimes.”

1

See infra, Book VIII., chap. ix.

1

Plato, Laws v. 739 (Jowett's translation).

1

In my book, “La Propriété,” I reproduced the hypothesis that the Incas were of an alien race.

2

“The World's History,” edited by Dr. H. F. Helmolt. Vol. i. The Prehistoric World: America, p. 315.

1

F. Catron, “Histoire du fanatisme des réligions protestantes, et de l'Anabaptisme”—Henri Olten, “Le Tumulte des Anabaptistes”—Guy de Bres, “La Racine, source et fondement des Anabaptistes.”

1

“Voyage aux régions Equinoxales,” vol. vi., book vii., ch. 19.

2

Charles Comte, “Traite de la Législation,” vol. iv., p. 464.

3

Bougainville, vol. i., pp. 196-197.

4

Cited by Charles Comte.

5

See Pfotenhauer, “Die Missionen der Jesuiten in Paraguay,” 3 vols., 1891-1893.

1

Pellarin, “Fourier, sa vie et ses théories.”

2

Fourier “Œuvres Complètes,” vol. iii., p. 19. Théorie de l'unité universelle.

3

Pellarin, vol. ii., p. 203.

1

“History of Socialism in the United States,” 1903.

1

De I'Industrie (1816).

1

See “L'Humanité” and “L'Encyclopédie nouvelle.”

1

See, in addition to works dealing specially with these matters, “L'Histoire des classes ouvrières,” by Levasseur, vol. ii., p. 343, and G. Cohen, “Annales de I'Ecole libre des sciences politiques.” 1897.

1

“Le Droit au Travail,” Recueil des discours par J. Garnier.

1

Bourguin, “Les Systèmes socialistes,” p. 318.

2

“Qu'est ce que la propriété,” p. 94.

3

3rd ed. Book vi., ch. i., p. 233.

4

“Contradictions économiques,” ch. ii.

5

“Qu'est ce que la propriété?” p. 242.

6

“Du principe fédératif,” 1863.

1

Desjardins, “Proudhon,” i., p. 134.

2

Bourguin, “Proudhon,” 1901.

1

Ricardo, “Principles of Political Economy,” ch. v.

2

Discussions a la Société statistique de Paris; séance du 20 janvier et du 17 avril, 1909; Journal de la Société de Statistique, févrièr et avril, 1909.

1

“Das Kapital” (German edition), Introduction to vol. iii.

2

“Das Kapital,” vol. i., chap. i.

3

Ibid, vol. i., chap. vii., §2.

4

Ibid, vol. i., chap. viii.

5

Ibid, vol. i., chap. vii.

6

Ibid, vol. i., chap. i.

7

“Das Kapital,” vol. i., chap. i.

8

“Das Kapital,” vol. i., chap. xi.

9

Ibid, vol. i., chap. viii.

8

“Das Kapital,” vol. i., chap. ix.—vol. iii., chap iv.

0

“Das Kapital,” vol. i., chap. x.

0

“Das Kapital,” vol. i., chap. xii.

0

Das Kapital,” vol. iii., chap. vii. (Appendix).

0

Supra, p. 119. “Das Kapital,” vol. iii., chap. iv.

1

“Das Kapital,” vol. i., chap. xii.

2

Chapman. Report on the Cotton Trade, submitted to the Manchester Chamber of Commerce.

1

“Die Voraussetzungen des Socialismus und die Aufgaben der Social Demokratie.”

2

This summary is based upon a pamphlet by M. Abel, the editor of La Flandre Libérale.

1

Royal Statistical Society, June 20th, 1906.

2

See St. Loe Strachey's “Making the Poor.”

3

Werner Sombart, p. 89.

1

Société de Statistique de Paris (Séances du 19 mars, 1902, et du 18 mars, 1903.)

1

Estates which have paid duty more than once are only counted once, on the occasion of their first declaration.

1

The ownership of the property of churches and religious congregations has changed, but not the properties themselves.

2

“La Viticulture industrielle,” 1907, Giard et Brière, édit.

3

Discours de Roanne, 24 juin 1906.

4

At the fifth congress of the International Co-operative Alliance.

1

Bourdeau, “l'Evolution du Socialisme,” p. 297.

2

“Etudes socialistes,” p. 161.

1

“United States Industrial Commission,” vol. xiii., p. 32.

2

Ibid, vol. xiii., p. 91.

3

“Socialism,” being Notes on a Political Tour, by Sir Henry Wrixon, late Attorney-General of Victoria, 1896.

4

Reproduced by the Journal of Commerce of New York, January 30th, 1906.

1

Arthur Raffalovitch, “Trusts and Cartels.” See also Lacollection du Marché financier.

2

For the law on the subject, see “Trusts, Pools, and Corporations,” edited by William Ripley, 1906.

3

United States Industrial Commission, vol. xiii., p. 668.

4

Census 1900. Census Reports. vol. vii (manufactures, part i.), p. lxxv.

5

United States Industrial Commission, vol. xiii., p. 456. See also “The Tariff and the Trusts,” by Franklin Pierre (1907).

1

For the details, see Yves Guyot, “I'United States Steel Corporation,” Journal des Economistes, November, 1902.

1

United States Industrial Commission, vol. xiii., p. 107.

1

See his “Facts and Figures, the Basis of Economic Science,” 1904.

1

“Résultats statistiques du Reoensement de la population en France” (1901).

1

In the Table on p. 191 this figure is given as 1,396,000.

1

This is the name given to establishments in which men, working either alone or with the members of their families, or with paid workmen, are able to hire a room, and generally motive-power as well.

1

This figure is slightly less than the figure given above.

1

Das Kapital, vol. i., chap. x.

1

Socialist Congress, Stuttgart, August 20th, 1907.

1

Das Kapital, i., chap. x.

1

Professor Ely, “Socialieme.”

1

Supra, Book I., pp. 30 and 40.

1

History of Trade Unionism.

1

See an analysis in “Les Progrès de la Science économiques,” by Maurice Block.

1

Yves Guyot, “La Tyrannic socialiste” (1893)—“Les Principes de 89 et le socialisme” (1894)—“La Comèdie socialiste” (1897)—“Les Conflits de travail et leur solution” (1903).

1

Trade Union Act, 1871, Sched. i.

1

Ibid, §16.

2

Ibid.

3

Ibid, §8.

1

“Reflexions sur la violence,” see infra, chap. ix.

1

Revue Internationale du commerce, de l'industrie et de la banque, 30 juin, 1906.

1

See “Le Temps,” March 28th, 1907. The “Conseil de Prudhommes” is a tribunal for the settlement of disputes between employers and employees.

1

Where the Ministry of the Interior is situated.

1

See “Les conflits de travail et leur solution.”

1

Gribouille was the wiseacre who threw himself into the river in order that his clothes might not get wetted by the rain.

2

See also M. Métin, “Le socialisme sans doctrines” (Paris, F. Alcan); L'arbitrage obligatoire, par Bertrand Nogaro (Paris, Roustan); “Australian Socialism,” by A. St. Leger.

1

“The Individualist,” June, 1907.

1

“The Times,” Financial and Commercial Supplement, April 8th and May 6th, 1907.

1

Loc. cit. pp. 118-127.

1

Quoted by M. Georg Simmel, “Philosophie de la Souverainete” Fournal des Economistes, 15 juillet, 1907.

1

“Le Socialisme et le mouvement social au xixe siecle,” p. 144 foll.

1

“Socialistische Monatshefte,” August, October and November, 1905. See the “Mouvement socialiste,” January 15th, 1906, p.117.

1

Werner Sombart, op, cit.

2

“Le Collectivisme et l'evolution industrielle,” p. 53.

1

See “The Times,” August 13th, 1909

1

February, 1894.

1

Georges Renard, “Le Regime Socialiste,” 1888 (Paris, F. Alcan); “Le Socialisme à l'œuvre,” p. 300.

1

“Réflexions sur la violence,” Mouvement Socialiste, 15 juin, 1906, p. 162.

1

Aristotle, “Politics,” v. chap. ix. §10 (Jowett's translation).