按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
labour； in other words； the more modern industry becomes
developed；
the more is the labour of men superseded by that of women。
Differences of age and sex have no longer any distinctive social
validity for the working class。 All are instruments of labour；
more or less expensive to use； according to their age and sex。
No sooner is the exploitation of the labourer by the
manufacturer；
so far； at an end； that he receives his wages in cash； than he is
set upon by the other portions of the bourgeoisie； the landlord；
the shopkeeper； the pawnbroker； etc。
The lower strata of the middle class the small tradespeople；
shopkeepers； retired tradesmen generally； the handicraftsmen and
peasants all these sink gradually into the proletariat； partly
because their diminutive capital does not suffice for the scale
on which Modern Industry is carried on； and is swamped in the
competition with the large capitalists； partly because their
specialized skill is rendered worthless by the new methods of
production。 Thus the proletariat is recruited from all classes
of the population。
The proletariat goes through various stages of development。
With its birth begins its struggle with the bourgeoisie。 At
first the contest is carried on by individual labourers； then by
the workpeople of a factory； then by the operatives of one trade；
in one locality； against the individual bourgeois who directly
exploits them。 They direct their attacks not against the
bourgeois conditions of production； but against the instruments
of production themselves； they destroy imported wares that
compete with their labour； they smash to pieces machinery； they
set factories ablaze； they seek to restore by force the vanished
status of the workman of the Middle Ages。
At this stage the labourers still form an incoherent mass
scattered over the whole country； and broken up by their mutual
competition。 If anywhere they unite to form more compact bodies；
this is not yet the consequence of their own active union； but of
the union of the bourgeoisie； which class； in order to attain its
own political ends； is compelled to set the whole proletariat in
motion； and is moreover yet； for a time； able to do so。 At this
stage； therefore； the proletarians do not fight their enemies；
but the enemies of their enemies； the remnants of absolute
monarchy； the landowners； the non…industrial bourgeois； the petty
bourgeoisie。 Thus the whole historical movement is concentrated
in the hands of the bourgeoisie； every victory so obtained is a
victory for the bourgeoisie。
But with the development of industry the proletariat not only
increases in number； it becomes concentrated in greater masses；
its strength grows； and it feels that strength more。 The various
interests and conditions of life within the ranks of the
proletariat are more and more equalised； in proportion as
machinery obliterates all distinctions of labour； and nearly
everywhere reduces wages to the same low level。 The growing
competition among the bourgeois； and the resulting commercial
crises； make the wages of the workers ever more fluctuating。 The
unceasing improvement of machinery； ever more rapidly developing；
makes their livelihood more and more precarious； the collisions
between individual workmen and individual bourgeois take more and
more the character of collisions between two classes。 Thereupon
the workers begin to form combinations （Trades Unions） against
the bourgeois； they club together in order to keep up the rate of
wages； they found permanent associations in order to make
provision beforehand for these occasional revolts。 Here and
there the contest breaks out into riots。
Now and then the workers are victorious； but only for a time。
The real fruit of their battles lies； not in the immediate
result； but in the ever…expanding union of the workers。 This
union is helped on by the improved means of communication that
are created by modern industry and that place the workers of
different localities in contact with one another。 It was just
this contact that was needed to centralise the numerous local
struggles； all of the same character； into one national struggle
between classes。 But every class struggle is a political
struggle。 And that union； to attain which the burghers of the
Middle Ages； with their miserable highways； required centuries；
the modern proletarians； thanks to railways； achieve in a few
years。
This organisation of the proletarians into a class； and
consequently into a political party； is continually being upset
again by the competition between the workers themselves。 But it
ever rises up again； stronger； firmer； mightier。 It compels
legislative recognition of particular interests of the workers；
by taking advantage of the divisions among the bourgeoisie
itself。 Thus the ten…hours' bill in England was carried。
Altogether collisions between the classes of the old society
further； in many ways； the course of development of the
proletariat。
The bourgeoisie finds itself involved in a constant battle。
At first with the aristocracy； later on； with those portions
of the bourgeoisie itself； whose interests have become
antagonistic
to the progress of industry； at all times； with the bourgeoisie
of foreign countries。 In all these battles it sees itself
compelled
to appeal to the proletariat； to ask for its help； and thus； to
drag
it into the political arena。 The bourgeoisie itself； therefore；
supplies the proletariat with its own instruments of political
and general education； in other words； it furnishes the
proletariat
with weapons for fighting the bourgeoisie。
Further； as we have already seen； entire sections of the ruling
classes are； by the advance of industry； precipitated into the
proletariat； or are at least threatened in their conditions of
existence。 These also supply the proletariat with fresh elements
of enlightenment and progress。
Finally； in times when the class struggle nears the decisive
hour； the process of dissolution going on within the ruling
class； in fact within the whole range of society； assumes such a
violent； glaring character； that a small section of the ruling
class cuts itself adrift； and joins the revolutionary class； the
class that holds the future in its hands。 Just as； therefore； at
an earlier period； a section of the nobility went over to the
bourgeoisie； so now a portion of the bourgeoisie goes over to the
proletariat； and in particular； a portion of the bourgeois
ideologists； who have raised themselves to the level of
comprehending theoretically the historical movement as a whole。
Of all the classes that stand face to face with the bourgeoisie
today； the proletariat alone is a really revolutionary class。
The other classes decay and finally disappear in the face of
Modern Industry； the proletariat is its special and essential
product。 The lower middle class； the small manufacturer； the
shopkeeper； the artisan； the peasant； all these fight against the
bourgeoisie； to save from extinction their existence as fractions
of the middle class。 They are therefore not revolutionary； but
conservative。 Nay more； they are reactionary； for they try to
roll back the wheel of history。 If by chance they are
revolutionary； they are so only in view of their impending
transfer into the proletariat； they thus defend not their
present； but their future interests； they desert their own
standpoint to place themselves at that of the proletariat。
The 〃dangerous class；〃 the social scum； that passively rotting
mass thrown off by the lowest layers of old society； may； here
and there； be swept into the movement by a proletarian
revolution； its conditions of life； however； prepare it far more
for the part of a bribed tool of reactionary intrigue。
In the conditions of the proletariat； those of old society at
large are already virtually swamped。 The proletarian is without
property； his relation to his wife and children has no longer
anything in common with the bourgeois family…relations； modern
industrial labour； modern subjection to capital； the same in
England as in France； in America as in Germany； has stripped him
of every trace of national character。 Law； morality； religion；
are to him so many bourgeois prejudices； behind which lurk in
ambush just as many bourgeois interests。
All the preceding classes that got the upper hand； sought to
fortify their already acquired status by subjecting society at
large to their conditions of appropriation。 The proletarians
cannot become masters of the productive forces of society； except
by abolishing their own previous mode of appropriation； and
thereby also every other previous mode of appropriation。 They
have nothing of their own to secure and to fortify； their mission
is to destroy all previous securities for； and insurances of；
individual property。
All previ