The Sun.
London, England, 1870-04-25 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY, APRIL 25, 1870.

IN a previous article we set forth in general terms
the condition of the industrial classes in foreign
countries. It was shown that though in fen
instances bad the working population of any
State attained a fair degree of comfort,
though in most cases their position must be
accounted one of depression and wretchedness, yet a
sensible and continuous improvement was visible. It
was also pointed out that the effect of such improve-
ment had been to excite within the hand-labourer
an overpowering desire to gain a still larger share of
the good things of this life; that, consequent
upon the spread of freedom and intelligence amongst
the working classes, was a determined effort to
reduce the inequalities of fortune; and that increased
prosperity had only led to bolder enterprises against
the rest of society. It remains to examine the state
of this serious social strife.

Nowhere has the hostility of labour to capital
assumed menacing proportions, save in those countries
where the working classes are rising in wealth and
freedom. The position is most dangerous
where the rank and file of society, in addition to
material prosperity, have acquired political power.
In States where bondage or semi-bondage is still
the rule, the aspirations of the masses find
relief in the wildest Socialist doctrines ;
under conditions of moderate freedom, these
theories become systematised, as in France
and Prussia; and where the working man is perfectly
free, as in England and America, speculation is
abandoned, and the war is carried on by great com-
binations to increase wages or reduce hours. The
weapons vary in different localities, but everywhere
the cause is the mama. In France and Prussia the
artisan becomes a Republican, and looks forward
to the time when the equal division of property
will be declared. In England and the United States
the trades-union is established, and the labourer
battles for immediate gain. In our own country the
workman is perfectly free; but the society is an old
one, great fortunes exercise a preponderating
influence, the Government is aristocratic, and
the surrounding conditions generally unfavour-
able to this kind of strife. Hence the hostile
Jrganisation of labour is most elaborate. The trades-
union exists in the greatest perfection; its operations
are most rigid and unsparing; and yet so powerful
are the opposing forces that defeat is more fre-
vent than victory. In America the fight is waged
on more e4ualterms. TheUnitedStates undoubtedly
3ffer the most favourable home in the whole world
to the working man. There is no aristocracy.
Every min works for a living in some capacity.
"The prosecution of the humblest calling acts as no
oar to promotion in the social scale. The lowly
3itizen of to-day may aspire to presidential honours
to-morrow." So rapid is the accumulation of wealth,
ISO easy is it for every one to become his
own master, that there is little temptation to Social-
ism : all the efforts of the American are directed to
Increasing his wages or lessening his labour. The
means are simple. The followers of a trade have
3nly to cease work. any,"- --w"6"
*tom a wealth-producing people that the employers
find it cheaper to yield than to incur the immense
loss of suspension. Strikes are incessant, lengthy, and
obstinate.

On the European Continent the workman seldom
finds himself in a position to strike. The trades-union
is not yet powerful ; the funds at disposal are scanty;
and the raws, although greatly moderated of late
years, are still adverse to industrial combinations
Hence, instead of striving for immediate advantage,
the European labourer contents himself with theory,
Socialism is rampant throughout Europe. It pre-
vails in Russia, Italy, and Spain ; it is powerful in
Germany; and it is the master passion of the
French artisan. Here, again, the rule holds
good. The more prosperous the workman,
the more threatening his animosity. In
Russia Socialism scarce dares shew itself. In Prussia
the teachings of Ferdinand Lassalle have sunk deep
into the hearts of the populace. This theorist pro-
posed that the State should make loans to productive
co-operative associations, in order that workmen
might themselves gain possession of the capital and
share the profits. Up to his death—he was killed
in a duel a few years ago—his doctrines made rapid
progress, and he attained an influence which none of
his successors has been • able to inherit. Still,
Socialism is powerful in Prussia, and would be more
so, had the working men secured the franchise.
In France they possess this formidable
weapon. Universal suffrage is the Franken-
stein of the Second Empire. The French
working man is a Socialist Republican, and he sup-
ports his principles by his vote. It is true that few
men of his choice find their way to the Legislature,
that the Government commands a large majority
there ; but the full effect of universal suffrage is
greatly neutralised by the official candidatures, and it
is impossible to tell what may happen when this re-
striction is withdrawn. Hampered as he is, the French
artisan displays the most implacable hostility to
capitalists andthe Government. No bribes can win
uim over. No act of kindness on the part of the
employer can propitiate him. Point out to the
Frenchman. some benefit he has received from his
" patron" (he does not tolerate the name (,f
"), and he will reply that the wealth
of the capitalist is accumulated by the work of
the labourer, and that any concession made
by the one is merely an instalment of the just rights
of the other. It is a poor foretaste of equality. To
do them justice the French workmen really believe
all this. They are thoroughly consistent and unani-
mous. Nowhere in France have such benefits been
conferred on the industrial classes as in Paris.
Nowhere is the Empire more bitterly detested. When
four deputies were lately elected for the capital, the
Government did not even think it worth while to
start a candidate. The contest was left to different
shades of Republicanism.
These distinctions between the directions of indus-
trial hostility in different countries must not
be taken too absolutely. Though the English-
man and the American prefer a strike to
nursing their discontent on Socialist theories, yet
these principles have gained a certain footing in both
lesac_apable
countries, And though