THE FRENCH AND SOCIALISM.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 81, 30 December 1907, Page 3

THE FRENCH AND SOCIALISM.

• The struggle going on in England, led by the "Standard," against Socialism, is attracting more and more attention in France. It is scarcely, however, the interest which would bo felt if French and English Socialists and Conservatives were identical in creed and action. Whilst* the English Conservatives seek to support systems which havo satisfactorily stood the test of time, his French namesake is a reactionary who is against the existing order, and always seeking to overthrow it. Tho English Socialist is often a hard-working man, who thinks that lie should receive a better return for labour that enriches his employers, but ' the Frenchman, whilst donouncing the tyranny of his employer, submits to tho far worse tyranny of the syndicate, so that, whilst the Englishman is always a free man, the Frenchman is n revolted slave. Consequently, the French economic student is watching tlio conflict on the other side of the Channel, so to speak, academically. The French idea, as it is expressed in the "Sieclo" to-day, is that it is generally worth while to watch political movements in England, because it is n country in advance of the world. It was the first to create political liberty and civic independence and to perfect constitutional representative Government, and whatever, lino it takos up other nations generally follow. For this reason, the signs that it has had enough of Socialism aro being noted in France as a portent of vthat m»y later be. expected here.