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BRITISH SOCIALISM
An Examination of Its Doctrines, Policy, Aims and Practical Proposals
by
J. ELLIS BARKER
Author of
'Modern Germany: Her Political and Economic Problems, etc.'
'The Rise and Decline of the Netherlands'
London
Smith, Elder, & Co.
New York: Charles Scribner's Sons
1908
CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I. INTRODUCTION--WHAT IS SOCIALISM? 1
II. SOME SOCIALIST VIEWS OF PRESENT SOCIETY AND OF THE
SOCIETY OF THE FUTURE 10
III. THE GRIEVANCES OF THE SOCIALISTS 30
IV. THE FUNDAMENTAL DOCTRINES OF SOCIALISM 50
V. THE AIMS AND POLICY OF THE SOCIALISTS 92
VI. THE ATTITUDE OF SOCIALISTS TOWARDS THE WORKING
MASSES 115
VII. THE ATTITUDE OF SOCIALISTS TOWARDS TRADE UNIONISTS
AND CO-OPERATORS 131
VIII. SOCIALIST VIEWS AND PROPOSALS REGARDING LAND AND
THE LANDLORDS 145
IX. SOCIALIST VIEWS AND PROPOSALS REGARDING CAPITAL
AND THE CAPITALISTS 152
X. SOCIALIST VIEWS AND PROPOSALS REGARDING TAXATION
AND THE NATIONAL BUDGET 160
XI. SOCIALISM AND THE EMPIRE 170
XII. SOCIALIST VIEWS ON INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS AND
FOREIGN POLICY 183
XIII. SOCIALISM AND THE ARMY 192
XIV. SOCIALISM AND THE MONARCHY 207
XV. SOCIALIST VIEWS ON PARLIAMENT AND THE NATIONAL
ADMINISTRATION 209
XVI. THE ATTITUDE OF THE SOCIALISTS TOWARDS THE TWO
PARLIAMENTARY PARTIES 225
XVII. SOCIALISM AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT 240
XVIII. SOCIALISM AND AGRICULTURE 261
XIX. SOCIALIST VIEWS ON BRITISH RAILWAYS AND SHIPPING 269
XX. SOME SOCIALIST VIEWS ON MONEY, BANKS, AND BANKING 278
XXI. SOME SOCIALIST VIEWS ON FREE TRADE AND PROTECTION 285
XXII. SOCIALISM AND EDUCATION 302
XXIII. THE ATTITUDE OF SOCIALISTS TOWARDS PROVIDENCE, THRIFT,
AND TEMPERANCE 311
XXIV. SOCIALIST VIEWS ON LAW AND JUSTICE 325
XXV. SOCIALISM AND WOMAN, THE FAMILY AND THE HOME 330
XXVI. THE SOCIALIST ATTITUDE TOWARDS CHRISTIANITY AND
RELIGION 354
XXVII. THE RELIGION OF SOCIALISM 364
XXVIII. CHRISTIAN SOCIALISM 375
XXIX. SOCIALISM AND COMMUNISM 381
XXX. SOCIALISM AND ANARCHISM 394
XXXI. SOCIALISM AND REVOLUTION 404
XXXII. STATE SOCIALISM 411
XXXIII. THE SOCIALIST ORGANISATIONS: THEIR MUTUAL RELATIONS
AND THEIR POLICY 415
XXXIV. THE GROWTH AND DANGER OF BRITISH SOCIALISM 431
XXXV. HOW THE PROGRESS OF SOCIALISM MAY BE CHECKED 440
XXXVI. IS SOCIALISM POSSIBLE?--A GLANCE INTO THE SOCIALIST
STATE OF THE FUTURE 444
XXXVII. CONCLUSION 470
APPENDIX--OFFICIAL PROGRAMMES OF THE SOCIALISTIC ORGANISATIONS 481
BIBLIOGRAPHY 493
ANALYTICAL INDEX 509
BRITISH SOCIALISM
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION--WHAT IS SOCIALISM?
What is Socialism?
It is exceedingly difficult to answer that question in a few words,
for Socialism is exceedingly elusive and bewildering in its doctrines,
its aims, and its proposals.
Its opponents have described it as "a doctrine of sordid materialism
and of atheism," they have denounced it as "the gospel of everlasting
bellyful,"[1] and as "the coming slavery."[2] They have stated that
Socialism means to abolish religion, that it "would try to put
laziness, thriftlessness, and inefficiency on a par with industry,
thrift, and efficiency, that it would strive to break up not merely
private property, but, what is far more important, the home, the chief
prop upon which our whole civilisation stands."[3]
The Socialists, on the other hand, claim that "Socialism presents the
only living ideal of human existence"[4]; that "Socialism is science
applied with knowledge and understanding to all branches of human
activity"[5]; that "Socialism is freedom,"[6] and that it is
exceedingly just, for "the justice of Socialism will see all things,
and therefore understand all things."[7] One of the Socialist leaders
has told us "Socialism is much more than either a political creed or
an economic dogma. It presents to the modern world a new conception of
society and a new basis upon which to build up the life of the
individual and of the State."[8] Another informs us "Socialism to
Socialists is not a Utopia which they have invented, but a principle
of social organisation which they assert to have been discovered by
the patient investigators into sociology whose labours have
distinguished the present century."[9] A third has stated that
"Socialism is really neither more nor less than the science of
sociology."[10] A fourth asserts that "it is a scientific scheme of
national government entirely wise, just, and practical."[11] A fifth
states "Socialism to me has always meant not a principle, but certain
definite economic measures which I wish to see taken."[12]
Other Socialists have taught that "Socialism is an ethical system
founded on justice and truth; it is a heartfelt, soul-inspiring
religion, resting upon the love of God."[13] "Socialism is a theory of
social organisation, which reconciles the individual to society. It
has discovered how the individual in society can attain to a state of
complete development."[14] "Socialism is the right of the community,
acting in its corporate capacity, to intervene in the lives and
labours of men and women."[15] "Socialism is nothing but the
extension of democratic self-government from the political to the
industrial world."[16] "Socialism is an endeavour to substitute for
the anarchical struggle or fight for existence an organised
co-operation for existence."[17] "Socialism may be described as an
endeavour to readjust the machinery of industry in such a way that it
can at once depend upon and issue in a higher kind of character and
social type than is encouraged by the conditions of ordinary
competitive enterprise."[18] "Socialism is the development of policies
concerning the welfare of society."[19] "It is not arbitrary
destruction and reconstruction, but a natural process of
development."[20] "The idea of Socialism will conquer the world, for
this idea is nothing but the real, well understood interest of
mankind."[21] "Its principles will carry the whole human race to a
higher state of perfection."[22] "It is the great modern protest
against unreality, against the delusive shams which now masquerade as
verities."[23] "Socialism is of the character of a historical
discovery."[24] "Socialism, the inspiring principle of all Labour
Parties, whether they know it or not, is the next world movement--the
movement of the constructive intellect."[25]
Socialism is rich in promises, and its claims to our consideration and
support are manifold. Are these claims justified or not? Are the
Socialists or the Anti-Socialists right in their conception of
Socialism?
The Socialists maintain that all opposition to Socialism is based
either on self-interest or ignorance, and principally upon the
latter. Therefore one of the Socialist leaders wrote: "Those who wish
to understand Socialism will be wise to study Socialist books and
papers. One does not expect a true and fair account of any theory or
cause from its enemies. The man who takes his ideas of Trade-Unionism
from the Free Labour League, his ideas of Liberalism from the Tory
papers, his ideas of South African affairs--or any other affairs--from
the Yellow Press, will be misled into all manner of absurdities and
errors. The statements of party politicians and party newspapers on
most controversial subjects are prejudiced and inaccurate; but there
is no subject upon which the professional misleaders of the people are
so untrustworthy and so disingenuous as they are upon the subject of
Socialism."[26] A leading Socialist organ complained: "Our opponents
decline to deal with the fundamental principles of Socialism--its
unanswerable indictment of the capitalist system, with all its
concomitants of wage-slavery and slumdom; prostitution and child
murder--and prefer instead to indulge in calumniation and
misrepresentation of Socialism. We need not complain about that. It is
a tribute to the soundness of the Socialist position, to the
irrefutability of its principles, the impregnability of the rock of
economic truth upon which it is based, that our enemies dare not
oppose the principles of Socialism, dare not attempt to meet the
charge Socialism levels against the existing order."[27]
There is much truth in these complaints. The general public and most
writers and speakers know very little about Socialism, because this
most interesting subject has been very inadequately treated in the
existing books.
The existing books on Socialism describe, analyse, and criticise the
Socialist doctrines only in the abstract as a rule. However,
Socialism is not only an elaborate economic doctrine, it is at the
same time a complete system of practical politics. Hence it does not
suffice to study the doctrines of Socialism by themselves. In order to
understand Socialism we must also investigate its practical proposals.
Following the methods of our political economists, most writers on
Socialism have, unfortunately, treated Socialism rather as a
scientific abstraction than as a business proposition. Consequently
the most important practical details of Socialism, such as: What are
the views of the Socialist with regard to the Monarchy, the Army, the
Banks, the National Currency, the Law, Education? what are their
practical aims as regards Parliamentary Representation, Foreign
Policy, Agriculture, Taxation, Old-age Pensions, Fiscal Policy? what
are their relations with the Parliamentary Parties, the Trade-Unions,
the Co-operators, etc? what is their attitude towards International
Communism and Anarchism? is English Socialism an Evolutionary or a
Revolutionary Movement?--these and many other questions are touched
but lightly or are not touched at all.
It is somewhat difficult to deal fully with the practical proposals of
the Socialists, because the Socialists are very averse from
formulating their aims and disclosing their plans. An English
Socialist wrote: "To dogmatise about the form which the Socialist
State shall take is to play the fool."[28] Another one stated: "It is
quite impossible, at this time, nor would it be desirable, if
possible, to lay down any hard and fast line as to the development of
the details of Socialist organisation. Broad principles are all that
can with any degree of confidence be spoken about. The details will
arrange themselves, as the time arrives when it becomes necessary to
settle them."[29] Gronlund, perhaps the most prominent American
Socialist, stated: "Socialists do not profess to be architects. They
have not planned the future in minute detail."[30] Herr Bebel, the
leader of the German Social-Democratic Party, said on February 3,
1893, in the Reichstag, replying to the Roman Catholics, "We do not
ask from you the details of the future life of which you speak so
incessantly. Why, then, do you ask us about the future society?"[31]
Although we are told that "Socialism claims the consideration of
mankind, because it comes forward and offers a complete scheme to
improve the conditions of human life,"[32] Socialists carefully
abstain as a rule from giving us the details of that scheme.
The Socialists of all countries have very excellent reasons for
keeping to themselves the details of their plans for the future.
Nevertheless, a careful search through their numerous writings will
enable us to obtain a fairly clear and comprehensive view of their
political and economic plans and intentions.
Great Britain does not as yet possess a great Socialist party but only
a number of Socialist groups and factions which are totally at
variance as regards their aims, policy, and tactics. "They differ as
to the best means of getting what they want, and as to the best ways
of managing the work, and as to the proper way of sharing the
earnings. Some Socialists still believe that Socialism will have to be
got by force. I think there are not many. Some are in favour of buying
the land, the railways, the machinery, and other things; and some are
in favour of taking them, by force, or by new laws. Then some say that
there should be no wages paid at all, but that everyone should do an
equal share of work, and take whatever he needed from the nation's
goods. Others say that all men should do an equal share of work, and
have an equal share of the goods, or of the earnings. Others say it
would be better to pay wages, as now, but to let the wages be fixed by
the Government, or by corporations, or other officials, and that all
wages should be equal. Others, again, say that wages should be paid,
that the wages should be fixed as above stated, and that different
kinds of work should be paid for at different rates. In one kind of
Socialism the civil engineer, the actor, the general, the artist, the
tram guard, the dustman, the milliner, and the collier would all be
paid the same wages. In another kind of Socialism there would be no
wages, but all would be called upon to work, and all who worked would
'take according to their needs.' In another kind of Socialism the
civil engineer would be paid more than the navvy, the opera singer
more than the milliner, the general more than the sergeant, and the
editor more than the scavenger."[33]
Notwithstanding these numerous and important differences, of which
more will be learned in the course of this book, British Socialists
are absolutely united in certain important respects. "The policies of
Socialism are a changeable quantity, though the principle is as fixed
as the Northern Star."[34] "Socialism is as flexible in its form as it
is definite in its principles."[35]
A superficial study of Socialism reveals to us not a single and
generally accepted plan, but a confused and confusing mass of mutually
contradictory plans and doctrines. Therefore he who wishes to know
what Socialism is, must study the many-headed movement in its entirety
and give an impartial hearing to all its advocates. We can understand
Socialism only if we are acquainted with practically its entire
literature.
Unfortunately the literature of Socialism is very vast. A complete
collection of modern Socialist literature would embrace at least
thirty thousand items. Therefore a full analysis of international
Socialism based upon the study of the original sources is a forbidding
undertaking. I have consequently limited myself to the investigation
of the British Socialist movement, although I have cast a cursory
glance upon foreign Socialism whenever it seemed necessary to do so.
I have consulted altogether about a thousand books and pamphlets, and
have given representative extracts from four hundred or five hundred
of those which seemed most proper to elucidate the subject of this
book. Having given space to the views of all the Socialist groups,
this book is a summary of the whole literature of British Socialism
and a key to it. It is based exclusively on first-hand evidence, and
every statement contained in it can instantly be verified by reference
to the original sources indicated in the footnotes. In the
Bibliography at the end of this volume the full title, publisher's
address, and date of publication of all sources drawn upon are given,
so that readers will have no difficulty in procuring any Socialist
books they may want for further study.
Most of the books quoted are unknown to booksellers, and are not in
public libraries. Even the British Museum Library possesses only part
of the publications used in this book, which is the first to exploit
fully the whole Socialist party literature. Whilst most books on
Socialism take note only of Socialist text-books addressed to
students, the present volume considers chiefly the propaganda
literature which is educating the Socialist rank and file and shaping
its political views. For all practical political purposes the
propaganda literature is undoubtedly by far the more important of the
two to the statesman and the citizen.
The present volume is the only book of its kind, and I hope that the
Socialist movement in Germany, France, and the United States will be
treated with similar completeness by writers of these countries. The
perusal of the present volume will enable us to form an opinion of the
merits or demerits of the Socialistic theories and practical plans,
and make it possible for us to separate the grain from the chaff, the
wisdom from the folly, in the teachings of the Socialists. Thus we
shall be able to see which of their complaints and proposals are
justified and practical, and which are unjustified and unpractical.
Popular dissatisfaction, Socialistic and non-Socialistic, points to
the existence of ills in the body politic, and the Socialistic
agitation is exceedingly valuable inasmuch as it draws general
attention to these ills. Some complaints of the Socialists will be
found to be imaginary, others are very real.
It would be a sterile undertaking merely to analyse and criticise
Socialism and the Socialistic proposals. Therefore, after having
described the policy, ideals, and aims of the Socialists, I mean to
analyse the disease of which Socialism is a consequence and a symptom,
and to propose practical measures for curing it.
In the course of this book I shall show that Socialism seems likely to
become a very great danger in this country--a far greater danger than
is generally realised. Therefore its opponents will be wise not to
sneer at Socialism, but to study it and to try to understand it. That
task will be found worth our while, and only after it shall we be able
to further Socialism if it is beneficial, to combat it if it is
pernicious, and to correct it if it is only the misguided expression
of genuine suffering and want. Indifference to a great and dangerous
political movement such as Socialism may have the gravest
consequences. Idlers do not make history. They suffer it.
FOOTNOTES:
[1] Millar, _Socialism_, p. 21.
[2] Herbert Spencer, _The Man versus the State_, p. 18 ff.
[3] Roosevelt, Presidential Message, December 1907.
[4] Walter Crane in Squire, _Socialism and Art_, Foreword.
[5] Bebel, _Woman_, p. 256.
[6] Kessack, _Capitalist Wilderness_, p. 2.
[7] Ford, _Woman and Socialism_, p. 3.
[8] Keir Hardie, _From Serfdom to Socialism_, p. 1.
[9] Webb, _The Difficulties of Individualism_, p. 3.
[10] Hyndman, _Socialism and Slavery_, Preface.
[11] Blatchford, _Merrie England_, p. 100.
[12] Shaw, _The Impossibilities of Anarchism_, p. 3.
[13] "Veritas," _Did Jesus Christ teach Socialism?_ p. 1.
[14] Macdonald, _Socialism_, p. 3.
[15] _Labour Record_, February 1907.
[16] Webb, _The Difficulties of Individualism_, p. 15.
[17] _Will Socialism benefit the British People?_ p. 4.
[18] Ball, _The Moral Aspects of Socialism_, p. 3.
[19] Williams, _The Difficulties of Socialism_, p. 3.
[20] Bebel, _Woman_, p. 257.
[21] Sorge, _Socialism and the Worker_, p. 13.
[22] _Ibid._ p. 16.
[23] Bax, _Religion of Socialism_, p. ix.
[24] Lafargue, in Bliss, _Encyclopedia of Social Reform_, p. 1264.
[25] Macdonald, _Labour and the Empire_, p. 108.
[26] Blatchford, _What is this Socialism?_ p. 2.
[27] _Justice_, October 19, 1907.
[28] Keir Hardie, _From Serfdom to Socialism_, p. 96.
[29] Ethel Snowden, _The Woman Socialist_, p. 44.
[30] Gronlund, _Co-operative Commonwealth_, p. 126.
[31] Guyot, _Pretensions of Socialism_, p. 11.
[32] Hird, _From Brute to Brother_, p. 1.
[33] Robert Blatchford, _Real Socialism_, p. 15.
[34] Williams, _Difficulties of Socialism_, p. 4.
[35] Bliss, _Encyclopedia of Social Reform_, p. 1265.