The sun., 1881-11-27
tions, that BISMARCK, with all the enginery

tions, that BISMARCK, with all the enginery
OF persecution at his command, has utterly
failed to stifle the Socialist propaganda, or
even to arrest the overt demonstrations OF
its political strength. II becomes, there
fore, n matter OF great Interest to learn what
arc the aims and programme of a party
which exhibits such astonishing tenacity OF
life, and which, when the temporary pres
sure under which It struggles is taken or,
may he expected to display remark
able expansion. It Is strange that SO
little should be known T. English
speakins countries about German Social
Ism, when we bear ia mind that its chief
teacher and organizer, KARL MARX, has
lived for more than thirty years in London,
has written not only for English but for
American newspapers, aud has made the
industrial type OF society presented In
Great Britain and the United States the
subject of lifelong study and the object of
his special criticism. Yet. so fer as we
know. his book. " Das Kapital," which ex-
pounds the principles and methods OF his
proposed reforms, and which constitutes
the gospel OF a party already forming a
considerable section OF the German people,
has never been translated into English.
1t is unreasonable TO confound tho objects
and methods of German Socialists with the
aims OF Russian Nhilists or French Com
munists. MARX AYERS that his proposals
strictly observe tho limo OF tho actual In
dustrial evolution, and are thus, IN any
event, plans for accclrratng the inevita-
bic lie has always maintained, moreover,
that German Socialists should not only
keep n different aim in view, but adopt diff
fcrent processes and tactics from those fol-
lowed in France. Their work, he said, being
that Of social evolution, was wholly dis
tinct from that OF the old political conspira-
tors and secret societies, and therefore
needed different weapons. Street insurrec-
tions, small risings. petty plots, might over
turn dynasty or oust q ministry, but
would be OF no avail for introducing collcc-
tive property, or abollshing wage labor
According to MARX, n social revolution
needed other and larger preparation: public
opinion must be educated and wrought
upon by public and open propaganda, and
society as whole must be aroused to a
conscious consent to its own Transformation.
KARL MARX and the German Socialists
declare that they arc struggling, not for
the subversion OF existing principles, but
for their universalizaton. They do not
seek to abolish the State. but only that
special style OF State in which tho pos
SCISSORS OF capital are practically exclusive
masters OF political power. They do not
aim to abolish property, but only that par
ticular scheme Of ownership under which
private property Is really abolished for
nne-tenths OF society, and maintained
merely for one-tenth. 1t is equally absurd
to suppose that German Socialists desire
to abolish marriage and the family /;
what they wish to charge is that
system OF things under which. as
they aver, marriage and tho family
are virtually class institutions; Tor the
prolctariat they say cannot have any
family life worthy OF the name SO long as
their wages are so low that they are forced
to crowd whole family. regardless OF all
dcccncy, in single room, and so long as
their children are taken away prematurely
to labor in the factories. AS to the way or
method OF emancipation. KARL MARK has
taught his German followers that the prol-
etariat must strive first OF all to obtain by
lawful and pacific means political power,
and must then use it to place all capital and
means OF production In the hands OF the
State; that is to say. OF tho prolctariat it
self organized as governing body. 10
this end. various measures interfering with
the rights OF property as at present con-
ceived would be requisite, but they should
be applied gradually and with careful
reference to the circumstances OF the
country. First In Importance among the
measures enjolncd by MARX, Is the exproprl-
alton Of landed property and application OF
Its rent to State expenditure. Among other
features Of tho German Socialist programme
may be mentioned the abolition OF inher-
tancc the confiscation OF the property OF
emigrants, the Capitalization Of credit in
the hands OF the State by means OF a nation
al bank with State capital and exclusive
monopoly, the Capitalization OF all means
OF transport In the hands OF the State. the
Joint prosecution OF agriculture and me-
chanical arts. involving the obligation OF
labor resting equally upon all members OF
the community. There is an essential diff
ference between the German Socialists, most
OF whom accept these views OF MARX. and the
so-called Anarchic Socialists, who. headed
by BAKUNIN, Quarrelled with tho former At
the meeting OF the International Working
mems Association In 1879. BAkUNIN wished
property to be possessed and industry pur-
sued by groups or associations OF workmen.
uncontrolled by any central authority; for
this. no predicted. would bring back the old
tyranny and slavery in a more intolerable
form. KARL MARX. on the other hand. in
sists that the Socialist scheme Of collective
property and cooperative production could
not possibly be introduced. maintained. or
regulated except by means of an omnipo-
tent and centralized political authority.
Such are tho ideas and plans OF the Social
ist party in Germany. party strong enough
to send, in the teeth of the most strenuous
repression, fifteen representatives 10 the
Reichs.ag. and to cast much larger pro-
portion OF the popular vote than that num-
Der Of Deputies would indicate.