The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-08

There is something very curious in recent
report from Germany. We are told that Bis
MARoK, after arming himself with the most
complete machinery Of repression against
the Socialists, has profrcred Government aid
to one OF their fayorte projects, namely,
cooperative scheme for improving the homes
Of workingmen. In other words the Chan
cellor volunteers TO do the very thing which
LAssALLE and his fellow agitators have per-
sistently demanded The question becomes
pertinent, What Is there IN the principles Of
these men which can thus eXtort concessions
from their most redoubtable opponent
What are the doctrines which they preach,
and by what means have they contrved TO
press them with such effect upon public
opinion
As yet very little inquiry has been directed
in this country to the precise purport OF the
new social movement which has acquired so
much momentum in the German empire
No doubt the names OF two or three ex-
ponents and organizers are well known, and
the political strength developed by their
party at the polls has naturally commanded
notice. But we are very little acquainted
with the aims and proposed methods Of
these reformers. aud still less with the lit
erary instruments Of their propaganda
with the professors, philosophers. and
| writers who have striVen to commend views,
startling and subversive In themselves to
many judlcious and instructed minds. For
| information on the one head we shall do we'll
| to scan the official programmes of the new
| party, while 10 explain its growing influence
| we may glance at some OF the advocates
most recently recruited from the highly
educated class.
II was at the Gotha Congress In 1875 that
the two Socialist organizations were com
bined in the so-caled Socialistic Labor par
! ~ Of Germany. The programme adopted
| on this occasion set forth that labor Is the
source Of all wealth and Of all culture, and
that as productive labor is possible only In
and through society 50 the proceeds OF labor
belong without reduction and with equal
right to all the members OF community
II was further affirmed that in the society
Of the present day the capitalists monopo-
lie the control OF labor, and that the de-
pendence Of the laboring class produced
thereby is the cause OF misery and servi-
tude in all their forms So much for the
principles laid down at Gotha. Now for the
proposed method of redress. In order TO
its control and regulation, with the distribu-
| tlon Of its proceeds, must become the cor
poratc business Of society, the function Of
the State 1t follows that the German Labor
party aims To secure by legislation the So
clalistic organization Of society, including
the abolition Of the wages system and the
dividend system in every form In a word,
the total suppression OF social and political
A.. III. ia,
toward the solution Of the problem, the party
lays the greatest stress upon the founding
Of productive associations with State aid,
under the democratic control Of the laboring
people
IL Is plain enough that these doctrines
strike at the root Of that individualism
which is the core principle Of society,
as II now exists in Western nations. II
is equally certain that these views have
so far been allowed but scant consideration
by thinkers and writers Of authority among
English-speaklng peoples Yet il cannot be
denied that the case is otherwise in Ger.
many. A very brief survey Of names and
facts will attest what considerable weight is
conceded TO Socialist principles by some OF
the guides OF German opinion, and with
what signal leverage this circumstance has
endowed them. We will not dwell ON such
earlier opponents OF these doctrines as Prof
WISKELBLECH, who wrote under the sig
nature Of MARIO, >" or as JAGETZow, formerly
Prussian Minister OF Agriculture. Nor is il
, necessary TO cite the tribute OF opponents tC
, the requirements and abilities OF MARX ant
ENGELs. But in the German learned worlC
we note that FEUERBACH has formally gone
over TO Socialism, while three Influential
, philosophers, namely, Hartmann. +. A
, LANCE, and DUHRING, are acknowledged tC
border on it. A like tendency is consplcuou,
, among the younger political economists
who have decidedly rejected the views o
the Manchester school, and declared for the
, Interference OF the State in social and inan
cial concerns. Nor have some OF then
, scrupled to intimate the need OF reforming
, the institution Of property, the advantage o
, annulling private ownership in the soil, anC
? Of transferring the same to the parish or Il
! the commonwealth. Prominent among thu
5 professors, to whom the name of Catheder
= Socialists has been applied, may be men
Y toned WAGNER, the only professor Of politi
: cal economy in the Berlin university, BREN
a TANo OF Breslau, HELD of Bonn RosLER o
t Rostock, and sCHMoLLER of Strassburg
moro than one Of whom is known TO be hell
4 in high esteem by BISMARCK. So toe
n ScHAFFLE, the late Austrian Minister, ha
a avowed opinions very closely approaching
4 Socialism.
d So much for those who have been won I,
a the so-called New Economy from what ma
4 be termed the class of scientific thinkers
g Among those who have assumed the wor
= OF literary exposition may be cited LIEF
n KNEoHT, STAMM, DULK, DoUAY, BERNAR
|, BECKER, and LEOPOLD JAcopY, all Of whoI
n are reputed men OF classical training. Ther
=" is a large number fless known writer's, SON
70 OF them college graduates, who contribute