Bismarck on Socialism.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 6260, 5 July 1890, Page 3

Bismarck on Socialism.

If there is one subject in the domestic economy of Germany that Prince Bismarck has made himself master of it is the socialislio question. That is why His Highness was asked for an expression of opinion in regard to the demonstration of May Day. “The antagonism between employer and employed, in my opinion, is the result of a natural law, and in the course of nature can never come to an end. We will never reach a situation where the labouring men will say, “We are satisfied both for ourselves and for our children and for those who come after us.” It may he considered an axiom that the desire of the labourer to improve his condition, to get on, will last as long as he sees anyone whose condition is better than is own. Quite on improvement has taken place in, the condition of the labouring classes daring the latter half of this century. Fifty years ago the chlidren of poor Germany wont barefoot in summer, with little more than a shirt or shift to cover them up to the ago of ten or twelve ; to-day the children of the poorer classes are decently clothed and shod, young and old. Their food is bettor, and they do not work so many * hours. This is true, I fancy, of all civilized countries. LARGER AND CAPITAL. “ In this eternal struggle between labour and capital, labour has scored the most victories. Such will be tbe case whenever the labouring man has the ballot. Should there ever be a final victory it would- be his. But if this struggle ever did come to an end human activity would come to a deadlock and human struggle and striving come to an end, which is not, I think, the intention of Divine Providence. “ Another solution is only possible whore slavery exists-for instance, in Africa, where,

if the political parties who oppose socialism do not unite in defence of their independence and the welfare of the citiz n and (ho family, they must succumb to socialist domination until such time as socialism in its turn is overthrown by the excea-i and misery inherent in it as in slavery. For the sociulislio syetem of government is a species of slavery, a sort of penitentiary system for tho union of its intended victims. Until now the hatred of every party against their next neighbours in politics has been still stronger than the fear of socialistic domination, because they do not believe in the strength of the socialists, and in the struggle among themselves each party counts on the favour of the socialists, their alliances and .their votes. Nor in their greed for and pursuit of voles do they keep before their minds the danger and Buffering that civilised society would be exposed to when ruled by the least educated, least intell’gent portion of the population, whoso ignorance is easily led by any eloquent liar, whose stock in trade is ‘ the thousand natural ills that flesh is heir to,’ for which they will denounce any existing Government as responsible, while they themselves indulge in large promises at cheap rates. That is what 1 consider being a liar. The mob is a sovereign that needs flattery as well as any sultan

A PEBPEXTJAL CONFLICT. “ No ; this conflict of classes will never cease. To solve it is like trying to solve the problem of squaring the circle. It is the Utopian dream of the thousand years of millennium, to be realised only when men become as angels. Any arrangement on the basis of a fixed remuneration for labour say, 5s a day, is not feasible. No such arrangement could be made binding on those who shall live a hundred years hence, nor would the labourer of to day rest contented. “ Socialism will give a good deal of trouble yet. Governments have sometimes been reproached with a lack of enegy, with tenderness. Ido not call it tenderness, if a man bo a coward, and yield to the pressure of a manifestation. It is sometimes true benevolence to shod blood, the blood of a riolous minority, in the defence of a peace-loving, law-abiding majority. “ The first requisite in a Government is energy. Nob to be a time-server ; not to sacrifice the future to any arrangement for convenience, purely temporary. A Government should bo steadfast. The firmness—indeed fierceness —of the ruling power is the guarantee of peace, both abroad and at borne. A Government always ready to yield to the majority—either local, temporary, parliamentary, or riotous—which keeps up its authority by concessions, each one of which paves the way for a new concession, is in a sore strait.”