The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1885-03-08
SOME NEW ROCKS.


n English. under the title OF The Socialism OF
to-day thirteen essays. presenting u couprc-
hcnsive survey of the modern Socialist move-
mont. by EMILE DE LAvELEYE London. Field h
Tuorl. This 10 moro exhaustive book than
the analogous conspectus OF Socialist theories
BY Mr.. John Rao. IN American reprint OF which
has boon noticed in these columns. Moreover.
the English version of the Belgian writer's
analysis is supplemented with n minute do
scrption OF tho aspects and progress Of social
ism In England. OF all tho attic pts made dur
ing late years to ncuuaint English and American
readers with tho main positions taken by
tho Socialist reformers. and to exhibit In
clear and complcto way the history of the
revolt agains. tho orthodox economy. this
translation Of the work by N. de Laveeye is
tho most satisfactory. For while NJ de Lavelye
docs not accept tho conclusions OF Karl Marx.
no docs full Justice to the cogency OF the
reasoning by which thoy are reached. and
should himself be classed with those Socialists
of the Chair who exert powerful influence
on German cultivated thought and make them
solves felt in Legislation. who believe ia the
possibility Of social moderation by gradual and
legal means. and who avoid deductions that
would Justify n violent revolution Of society by
rejecting alike the premises and the method
OF tho English economists. In their hands, as
we shall 500. political economy has ceased to
be q deductivc science made UP OF dry abstrac-
tons and iron applications. and has become
tho subject of historical inquiry and induc-
tive reasoning inspired by ethical aims. and
devoted to the wise and therefore not abrupt
improvement OF the relations between man
md man. This school OF phianthropical econ
omy. though 1t has chiefly bossomed and
borne fruit In Germany. has reckoned a few
Englishmen among its precursors or adherents.
like William Goodwin in the last century. and
Thyroid Rogers in our own day: nor do the
latest writings OF John Stuart Mill leave any
room for doubt that he. too. was tending In the
same direction before he died.
Tho socialism OF to-day has . multitude Of
phases not one OF which Is overlooked by NJ.
de Laveleye; but we shall just now confne
Ourselves to indicating his prevailing lucidity
and fairness by some extracts from his review
of the German Professor Socialists. Could we
add what for the present we must refrain from
dong) O reference to some OF the facts brought
out by the translator in his supplementary &C.
count OF the growth OF Socialist ideas in Great
Britain. We should have drawn attention to the
specially striking and distinctive features Of
this book. though the whole Of 1t should be
carefully examined by those DESTROYS OF OBJ
tanning thorough understanding OF a most
impressive movement Of our time In the first
place. we are shown by NJ. do Laveeye
that the German economists OF the new
on all subjects How could it be otherwise.
seeing that they 'repudiate the process OF de.
ductive reasoning from premises assumed to
DO immutable. and insist upon pursuing the
historical method OF inquiry; and sect ng that
theexpediency or opportunenesso OF applying the
lessons Of induction to a particular community
is q matter, not Of demonstration. but OF opin-
ion? The orthodox political economy. by de-
ducing its propositions from certain axioms.
utv,ta ,,v,,, xhut rIar
ously from the free action OF natural laws. en-
abled a very clear and simple science to be
formed without any great effort. and one which
professed to solve all difficulties by the uniform
recipe OF tdissez fare. Unfortunately. It has
failed to solve the capital problem OF human
poverty and misery. and what will seem to
many persons equally fatal to its claims
is its impotence to confute the doctrines
Of Marx. Nothing could be more positive
and sweeping than the concession Of NJ. de
Laveleys that "all those-and they are still
numorous-who admit the theories OF Ricardo
and Bastat on labor will be unable to escape
from the conclusions OF the German Socialist
Karl Mark without inconsistencies. His de-
ductions are perfectly logical: 1t Is the starting
points OF his reasonings. which he has borrowed
from the most orthodox economists. that are
false" On every ground. then. as we'll ala
lectical as practical. NJ. de Laveleye believes It
economical problems from an isolated
standpoint: they are closely connected
with psychology. religion. morals. law.
customs. and history. 1t is. therefore.
necessary to take all those clements into ac-
count and not to be contented with the uni
form and superficial formula OF let alone tlais-
ser Jaire). The class anta2onsm which has
been at all times Mt the bottom OF political rev.
buttons reappears to-day with more serious
features than ever. 1t seems to imperil the flu
ture OF civilization. There il no use In denying
the evil: 1t is far bctter TO study 1t under all its
forms and to endeavor to apply a remedy to 1t
by means OF successive and rational meliora-
tons. 1t is to morals. to the sentiment OF JUS
tics. and to Christian charity that We must look
for inspiration. Political economy ought to DO
an ethical science" That is precisely what the
German Professor Socialists aim to make It.
They accuse the orthodox doctrine which has
long been dominant in England. OF taking a
one-s sided view Of things. Without doubt. 4"
they say. man pursues his own interest. but
moro than one motive acts on his mind and
regulates his actions. By the side Of egoism
there is tho sentiment of COLLECTIVELY. the &C.
mensinn. the social instinct. which IL mani
tested in the formation OF the family the COM
mune. and tho State. Man Is not like the brute
that knows only the satisfaction Of its wants
he Ia a moral being who understands obedience
to duty. and who. from hls religious or philo-
sophical training. is often induced to sacrifice
his satisiactons. his welfare. and even his
life. for his country. for humanity. for
truth and for God. 1t is therefore a mis-
take to base series OF deductions on the
aphorism that man acts solely under the
sway OF single motive. self.interest
Those general and constant facts OF human
nature from which Rossi would deduce eco
nomc laws are imaginary. In different coun-
tries. at different epochs. mon obey motives
which arc not always the same. seeing that
they spring from different ideas OF we'll being
right. morality. and justica."s But "inasmuch
rs at different stages OF civilization mon have
different wants. different motives. and different
methods for the production. distribution. and
consumption OF wealth. it follows that econom-
ical problems do not admit Of those genera
and Il priori solutions which economic science