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production changes its character in proportion as material
production
is changed？ The ruling ideas of each age have ever been the
ideas of
its ruling class。
When people speak of ideas that revolutionise society； they do
but express the fact； that within the old society； the elements
of a new one have been created； and that the dissolution of the
old ideas keeps even pace with the dissolution of the old
conditions of existence。
When the ancient world was in its last throes； the ancient
religions were overcome by Christianity。 When Christian ideas
succumbed in the 18th century to rationalist ideas； feudal
society fought its death battle with the then revolutionary
bourgeoisie。 The ideas of religious liberty and freedom of
conscience merely gave expression to the sway of free competition
within the domain of knowledge。
〃Undoubtedly；〃 it will be said； 〃religious； moral； philosophical
and juridical ideas have been modified in the course of
historical development。 But religion； morality philosophy；
political science； and law； constantly survived this change。〃
〃There are； besides； eternal truths； such as Freedom； Justice；
etc。 that are common to all states of society。 But Communism
abolishes eternal truths； it abolishes all religion； and all
morality； instead of constituting them on a new basis； it
therefore
acts in contradiction to all past historical experience。〃
What does this accusation reduce itself to？ The history of all
past society has consisted in the development of class
antagonisms；
antagonisms that assumed different forms at different epochs。
But whatever form they may have taken； one fact is common to all
past ages； viz。； the exploitation of one part of society by the
other。
No wonder； then； that the social consciousness of past ages；
despite
all the multiplicity and variety it displays； moves within
certain
common forms； or general ideas； which cannot completely vanish
except
with the total disappearance of class antagonisms。
The Communist revolution is the most radical rupture with
traditional property relations； no wonder that its development
involves the most radical rupture with traditional ideas。
But let us have done with the bourgeois objections to Communism。
We have seen above； that the first step in the revolution by the
working class； is to raise the proletariat to the position of
ruling as to win the battle of democracy。
The proletariat will use its political supremacy top wrest； by
degrees； all capital from the bourgeoisie； to centralise all
instruments of production in the hands of the State； i。e。； of the
proletariat organised as the ruling class； and to increase the
total of productive forces as rapidly as possible。
Of course； in the beginning； this cannot be effected except by
means of despotic inroads on the rights of property； and on the
conditions of bourgeois production； by means of measures；
therefore；
which appear economically insufficient and untenable； but which；
in the course of the movement； outstrip themselves； necessitate
further inroads upon the old social order； and are unavoidable
as a means of entirely revolutionising the mode of production。
These measures will of course be different in different
countries。
Nevertheless in the most advanced countries； the following will
be pretty generally applicable。
1。 Abolition of property in land and application of all rents
of land to public purposes。
2。 A heavy progressive or graduated income tax。
3。 Abolition of all right of inheritance。
4。 Confiscation of the property of all emigrants and rebels。
5。 Centralisation of credit in the hands of the State； by means
of a national bank with State capital and an exclusive
monopoly。
6。 Centralisation of the means of communication and transport
in the hands of the State。
7。 Extension of factories and instruments of production owned by
the
State； the bringing into cultivation of waste…lands； and the
improvement of the soil generally in accordance with a common
plan。
8。 Equal liability of all to labour。 Establishment of
industrial armies； especially for agriculture。
9。 Combination of agriculture with manufacturing industries；
gradual abolition of the distinction between town and country； by
a more equable distribution of the population over the country。
10。 Free education for all children in public schools。
Abolition of children's factory labour in its present form。
Combination of education with industrial production； &c。； &c。
When； in the course of development； class distinctions have
disappeared； and all production has been concentrated in the
hands of a vast association of the whole nation； the public power
will lose its political character。 Political power； properly so
called； is merely the organised power of one class for oppressing
another。 If the proletariat during its contest with the
bourgeoisie is compelled； by the force of circumstances； to
organise itself as a class； if； by means of a revolution； it
makes itself the ruling class； and； as such； sweeps away by force
the old conditions of production； then it will； along with these
conditions； have swept away the conditions for the existence of
class antagonisms and of classes generally； and will thereby have
abolished its own supremacy as a class。
In place of the old bourgeois society； with its classes and
class antagonisms； we shall have an association； in which the
free development of each is the condition for the free
development of all。
III SOCIALIST AND COMMUNIST LITERATURE
1。 REACTIONARY SOCIALISM
A。 Feudal Socialism
Owing to their historical position； it became the vocation of
the aristocracies of France and England to write pamphlets
against modern bourgeois society。 In the French revolution of
July 1830； and in the English reform agitation； these
aristocracies again succumbed to the hateful upstart。
Thenceforth； a serious political contest was altogether out of
the question。 A literary battle alone remained possible。 But
even in the domain of literature the old cries of the restoration
period had become impossible。
In order to arouse sympathy； the aristocracy were obliged to
lose sight； apparently； of their own interests； and to formulate
their indictment against the bourgeoisie in the interest of the
exploited working class alone。 Thus the aristocracy took their
revenge by singing lampoons on their new master； and whispering
in his ears sinister prophecies of coming catastrophe。
In this way arose Feudal Socialism： half lamentation； half
lampoon；
half echo of the past； half menace of the future； at times； by
its bitter；
witty and incisive criticism； striking the bourgeoisie to the
very heart's
core； but always ludicrous in its effect； through total
incapacity to
comprehend the march of modern history。
The aristocracy； in order to rally the people to them； waved the
proletarian alms…bag in front for a banner。 But the people； so
often as it joined them； saw on their hindquarters the old feudal
coats of arms； and deserted with loud and irreverent laughter。
One section of the French Legitimists and 〃Young England〃
exhibited this spectacle。
In pointing out that their mode of exploitation was different to
that of the bourgeoisie； the feudalists forget that they
exploited under circumstances and conditions that were quite
different； and that are now antiquated。 In showing that； under
their rule； the modern proletariat never existed； they forget
that the modern bourgeoisie is the necessary offspring of their
own form of society。
For the rest； so little do they conceal the reactionary
character of their criticism that their chief accusation against
the bourgeoisie amounts to this； that under the bourgeois regime
a class is being developed； which is destined to cut up root and
branch the old order of society。
What they upbraid the bourgeoisie with is not so much that it
creates
a proletariat； as that it creates a revolutionary proletariat。
In political practice； therefore； they join in all coercive
measures against the working class； and in ordinary life； despite
their high falutin phrases； they stoop to pick up the golden
apples dropped from the tree of industry； and to barter truth；
love；
and honour for traffic in wool； beetroot…sugar； and potato
spirits。
As the parson has ever gone band in hand with the landlord；
so has Clerical Socialism with Feudal Socialism。
Nothing is easier than to give Christian asceticism a Socialist
tinge。
Has not Christianity declaimed against private property； against
marriage；
against the State？ Has it not preached in the place of these；
charity and
poverty； celibacy and mortification of the flesh； monastic life