New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-09-25
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
sor1.1, PROBLEMS.

WHAT SOCIAL CLASSES OWE TO EACH OTHER.
Harper Brothers
The iast and candid spirit IN which Professor
Elv. of Johns Hopkins University. undertakes tie
explanation Of the theories of modern sociaiistic
and trade reformers Is as rare In works OF this
character as 1t il in the pvemics OF theologlaDs.
He complains with good reason that
vast majority of the books on socialism
and communism are worthless because their
their authors start with such intense hatred OF
all socisistc systems that IL is simply impossible
for them to understand those systems; and they
couple their understanding with such reckless
use Of harsh and contemptuUus epithets that the
only effect of their labor Is to arouse bad blood ana
drive the various classes Of society further apart
than over In avoiding this vulgar error he has
taken pains not only TO give dispassionate
synopsis of ali the schemes and theories which tall
under his review but he seems to have Iet pleasure
in setting In strong light whatever Is best IN the
personal character OF Individual reformers Ids is
the right method. We shall nevr comprehend
the danger of socialistc movements If we shut our
ewes to the fervld victons the generous enthu-
siaym, aud the perfect unselfshnees which oiten
animate their apostles.
French socialism, as It lie explained in his chap
ters OH Babeuf, CADET. Saint Simon, Fourier,
Louis Blanc and Proudhun is wildly impractical
fantastic often alb urdly sentimental ann dreamy
It has rarely been serious force. and has chieby
interest at present. for nearly all author
ties agree that during the space OF generation III
has been NOR bnnd and Unfruitful. The anarchists
and Blanqusts who are the most conspicuous OF
the socalistc parties IN France not supposed to
be numerous Their character may be judged from
the title of the organ of the Banquists. NJ Dieu
nj Maitrvn and from the famous declaration of tue
anarchists that they propose to teach the people
how to get along without overnment, as theY
already begin to learn how to get along without
God. . They will learn likewise, how to get
along without propertv-holders." The tendency
of sociastic reform Is decidedly atheistic. liz
IA not clear that it need bs SO but in point of
fact it is generally coupled with materslism. In
this as in almost everything else, contemporary
French socialism follows that of Germany; for If
France has ceased TO produce any serious reform
system of her own. she makes industrious use OF
the labor philosophy excogitatod beyond the
Rhine "with comparatively few unimportant
exceptions, all socialism Of to-day, whether found
in Paris or Berlin, In New YORK Or Vienna in Chi
cago or Frankfort. on the-Main. is through and
through German" Professor Ely does not hide his
belief that IN this hard, scientific unsentimcntal,
relentless socialism which has replaced the fancies
of CADET ana Proudhon lies great danger to this
country AS we'll as TO the rest of the world At the
Congress of German Social Democrats held in
Copenhagen in March and April, 1883. an interest
ing feature of the reports was the considerable
financial aid received from America The party
seems to be gaining strength. and acquiring more
aud mere of all international character.
Ferdinand Lassalle and Karl Marx the most
conspicuous personages in modern German social
ism, and Professor Ely gives a clear account of
their aims and theories. Some OF the recent leaders
have been greatly inferior tuthese famous not
only in ability but in personal uprlghtness
nevertheless We shall make serious mistake If we
look upon all or even the majority of them as
dcmagogues and self-seekers 1t is to be noted
that they recognize the practical incompatblty of
liberty and equality and that they regard equality
as much the more important of the two. For this
they are quite ready to sacrifice individual free
dom. They attribute extraordinary powers to the
State; and If they should succeed in oyerhrowing
the existing order OF government and society, we
should in its place one OF the most absolute des
potisms the world has ever known. The most
gensral demands of the Social Democrats are the
following: The State should exist exclusively for |
the labOrers land and capital must bscome collect
i've property, and production be carried on |
unitedly. Private competition, in the ordinary |
sense of the term, is TO cease Officers especially |
charged with this function are, by means of care
fully collected statistics to regulate production
cordiLg to the needs of the people. Our present |
money is to be replaced by money representing
labor units; labor is to become the sole purchas-
ing power. One Of the party programmes requires
distribution of products according to the needs of
each recipient The majority expect the violent
overthrow of existing institutions by revolution
precede the introduction of the sociastic state
The relations of socialism to current politics In
Germany are fairly considered; and chapter is |
devoted to schemes of Christian Socialism as repre-
sented by De Lamennas In France. by Charles
Kingsley, +. d. Maurics and Thomas Hughes in
England. aud by Bishop Won Ketteler In Germany. |
In this movement and especially the influence Of
the Church in Germany, Professor Ely finds the
surest hope for society aud for the poor
Tho treatise by Professor. Sumner. of Yale on |
q What Social Glasses Owe to Each Other" is con-
spcueyx for the faults of manner from which Pro-
lessor Ely's book is so happily free. There is an
insolent dvgmatism about it which cannot fail to
irritate the misguided persons whom II Is probably
intended to convert. and which is offensive indeed
even to those who agree with many of the authors
principles. An example Of this unfortunate pecu-
liarity may he cited from of the introductory
paragraphs. After remarking that we hear a great
deal nowadays about social problems, and ask
ing, Who are those who assume 70 put hard
questions to other people. and to demand solution
of themP he answers that to all appearances
those who are bound to solve the problems are
the rich, comfortable prosperous, virtuous respect
able, educated aud healthy; and those whose right
1t is to set the problems those who have been |
less fortunate less successful Ia the struggle for
existence. The problem itself seems to be. how |
shall the latter be made comfortable as the |
iormerp This statement of the case is wonder |
fully maladrot. 1t will be noticed that Professor
Sumner calmly assumes that virtue" aud re- |
spectabity" are as matter OF course OH the side
of the rich as against the poor and Unfortunate; |
IN other words. that the problem is, how to mako
the bad comfortable as the good rich. This
tone of gratuitous inSut to his opponents IS con-