1880.] on Social Democracy in Germany. 413 



an inferior position to capital. Now inventions, free trade, economic 

 rent, enrich cajjitdUsts, but as a rule — so it is urged — do not im2)rovc 

 the jiosition of the working classes. On tbe other liand, if free trade, 

 scientific discoveries, economic rent, chcaj) and abundant production, 

 enrich everybody through the one great central institution, as started 

 by social democracy, no injustice can possibly arise. The increase 

 of wealth represents an increase of the comfort of all. In this wealth 

 they have a share equivalent to their labour, but which can never 

 make them independent of future labour. 



The question in what way an indemnity should be given to the 

 present owners of capital does not disturb the equanimity of socialists. 

 These capitalists are for a certain number of years to get in goods an 

 equivalent for their present property, but the process of increasing 

 their capital by means of these goods is arrested. Means of enjoying 

 life will, perhaps, be abundantly given to several generations of rich 

 men, but the means of accumulating interest-bearing capital will be 

 stopped. The descendants of the richest individual will sooner or 

 later become workmen. Meanwhile the rich individual will have 

 ample leisure to prepare his grandchildren and great grandchildren 

 for the pleasant prospect of having to look to their own wits for their 

 sustenance, and if they have no wits, to the wits of the State. Capital 

 is no longer the property of any individual, it is the proj)erty of all. 



Though nobody will be able to acquire any capital, it does not 

 follow that nobody will be better off than his neighbour. For his 

 labour he can get anything he wishes and which is to be found in 

 the storehouses of the association, from which, of course, baneful 

 articles will be excluded.* A difficulty arises in connection with 

 certain professions — for instance, medical men — but this can be over- 

 come. It would be unnecessary to oblige individuals to take another 

 doctor or surgeon than the one they liked. His pay would not allow 

 him to accumulate capital, because he would simply get his share 

 of labour-checks as an equivalent for his visits, consultations, or 

 operations. 



Socialism, of course, has no room for credit in any form ; the stock 

 exchange, the mint, mortgages, shares, bonds, consols, all disappear. 

 A person who does not want to settle his account against the State at 

 once, can leave it as a claim against the community to be settled in 

 future. This claim will not yield any interest. When the claimant 

 requires payment he will only get it in goods. What inconvenience 

 may arise in the case of perishable goods, I need not point out. 



Labour may be unequal, and the retribution of labour also un- 

 equal, but the inequality is only an inequality of temporary ease and 

 comfort. Trade and markets disappear as well as money. Labour 

 and checks for labour are all-sufficient ! Put the required pro- 



* Herbert Spencer's books will certainly be nowhere, and what tbe fate of the 

 great philosopher in a social democratic community would be, I do not attempt 

 to describe. 



