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！
bourgeois Philistine。
It proclaimed the German nation to be the model nation； and the
German petty Philistine to be the typical man。 To every
villainous meanness of this model man it gave a hidden； higher；
Socialistic interpretation； the exact contrary of its real
character。 It went to the extreme length of directly opposing
the 〃brutally destructive〃 tendency of Communism； and of
proclaiming its supreme and impartial contempt of all class
struggles。 With very few exceptions； all the so…called Socialist
and Communist publications that now （1847） circulate in Germany
belong to the domain of this foul and enervating literature。
2。 CONSERVATIVE； OR BOURGEOIS； SOCIALISM
A part of the bourgeoisie is desirous of redressing social
grievances； in order to secure the continued existence of
bourgeois society。
To this section belong economists； philanthropists；
humanitarians； improvers of the condition of the working class；
organisers of charity； members of societies for the prevention of
cruelty to animals； temperance fanatics； hole…and…corner
reformers of every imaginable kind。 This form of Socialism has；
moreover； been worked out into complete systems。
We may site Proudhon's Philosophie de la Misere as an example of
this form。
The Socialistic bourgeois want all the advantages of modern
social conditions without the struggles and dangers necessarily
resulting therefrom。 They desire the existing state of society
minus its revolutionary and disintegrating elements。 They wish
for a bourgeoisie without a proletariat。 The bourgeoisie
naturally conceives the world in which it is supreme to be the
best； and bourgeois Socialism develops this comfortable
conception into various more or less complete systems。 In
requiring the proletariat to carry out such a system； and thereby
to march straightway into the social New Jerusalem； it but
requires in reality； that the proletariat should remain within
the bounds of existing society； but should cast away all its
hateful ideas concerning the bourgeoisie。
A second and more practical； but less systematic； form of this
Socialism sought to depreciate every revolutionary movement in
the eyes of the working class； by showing that no mere political
reform； but only a change in the material conditions of
existence； in economic relations； could be of any advantage to
them。 By changes in the material conditions of existence； this
form of Socialism； however； by no means understands abolition of
the bourgeois relations of production； an abolition that can be
effected only by a revolution； but administrative reforms； based
on the continued existence of these relations； reforms；
therefore； that in no respect affect the
relations between capital and labour； but； at the best； lessen
the cost； and simplify the administrative work； of bourgeois
government。
Bourgeois Socialism attains adequate expression； when； and only
when； it becomes a mere figure of speech。
Free trade： for the benefit of the working class。 Protective
duties： for the benefit of the working class。 Prison Reform： for
the benefit of the working class。 This is the last word and the
only seriously meant word of bourgeois Socialism。
It is summed up in the phrase： the bourgeois is a bourgeois
for the benefit of the working class。
3。 CRITICAL…UTOPIAN SOCIALISM AND COMMUNISM
We do not here refer to that literature which； in every great
modern revolution； has always given voice to the demands of the
proletariat； such as the writings of Babeuf and others。
The first direct attempts of the proletariat to attain its own
ends； made in times of universal excitement； when feudal society
was being overthrown； these attempts necessarily failed； owing to
the then undeveloped state of the proletariat； as well as to the
absence of the economic conditions for its emancipation；
conditions that had yet to be produced； and could be produced by
the impending bourgeois epoch alone。 The revolutionary
literature
that accompanied these first movements of the proletariat had
necessarily a reactionary character。 It inculcated universal
asceticism and social levelling in its crudest form。
The Socialist and Communist systems properly so called； those of
Saint…Simon； Fourier； Owen and others； spring into existence in
the early undeveloped period； described above； of the struggle
between proletariat and bourgeoisie （see Section 1。 Bourgeois
and Proletarians）。
The founders of these systems see； indeed； the class antagonisms；
as well as the action of the decomposing elements； in the
prevailing
form of society。 But the proletariat； as yet in its infancy；
offers
to them the spectacle of a class without any historical
initiative
or any independent political movement。
Since the development of class antagonism keeps even pace with
the development of industry； the economic situation； as they find
it； does not as yet offer to them the material conditions for the
emancipation of the proletariat。 They therefore search after a
new social science； after new social laws； that are to create
these conditions。
Historical action is to yield to their personal inventive
action； historically created conditions of emancipation to
fantastic ones； and the gradual； spontaneous class…organisation
of the proletariat to the organisation of society specially
contrived by these inventors。 Future history resolves itself； in
their eyes； into the propaganda and the practical carrying out of
their social plans。
In the formation of their plans they are conscious of caring
chiefly for the interests of the working class； as being the most
suffering class。 Only from the point of view of being the most
suffering class does the proletariat exist for them。
The undeveloped state of the class struggle； as well as their
own surroundings； causes Socialists of this kind to consider
themselves far superior to all class antagonisms。 They want to
improve the condition of every member of society； even that of
the most favoured。 Hence； they habitually appeal to society at
large； without distinction of class； nay； by preference； to the
ruling class。 For how can people； when once they understand
their system； fail to see in it the best possible plan of the
best possible state of society？
Hence； they reject all political； and especially all
revolutionary；
action； they wish to attain their ends by peaceful means； and
endeavour；
by small experiments； necessarily doomed to failure； and by the
force of
example； to pave the way for the new social Gospel。
Such fantastic pictures of future society； painted at a time
when the proletariat is still in a very undeveloped state and has
but a fantastic conception of its own position correspond with
the first instinctive yearnings of that class for a general
reconstruction of society。
But these Socialist and Communist publications contain also a
critical element。 They attack every principle of existing
society。 Hence they are full of the most valuable materials for
the enlightenment of the working class。 The practical measures
proposed in them …such as the abolition of the distinction
between town and country； of the family； of the carrying on of
industries for the account of private individuals； and of the
wage system； the proclamation of social harmony； the conversion
of the functions of the State into a mere superintendence of
production； all these proposals； point solely to the
disappearance
of class antagonisms which were； at that time； only just cropping
up；
and which； in these publications； are recognised in their
earliest；
indistinct and undefined forms only。 These proposals； therefore；
are of a purely Utopian character。
The significance of Critical…Utopian Socialism and Communism
bears an inverse relation to historical development。 In
proportion as the modern class struggle develops and takes
definite shape； this fantastic standing apart from the contest；
these fantastic attacks on it； lose all practical value and all
theoretical justification。 Therefore； although the originators
of these systems were； in many respects； revolutionary； their
disciples have； in every case； formed mere reactionary sects。
They hold fast by the original views of their masters； in
opposition to the progressive historical development of the
proletariat。 They； therefore； endeavour； and that consistently；
to deaden the class struggle and to reconcile the class
antagonisms。 They still dream of experimental realisation of
their social Utopias； of founding isolated 〃phalansteres；〃 of
establishing 〃Home Colonies；〃 of setting up a 〃Little Icaria〃
duodecimo editions of the New Jerusalem and to realise all
these castles in the air； they are compelled to appeal to the
feelings and purses of the bourgeois。 By degrees they sink into
t