BRITISH SOCIALISM
BRITISH SOCIALISM
AN EXAMINATION OF
ITS DOCTRINES, POLICY, AIMS
AND PRACTICAL PROPOSALS
BY
J. ELLIS BARKER
AUTHOR OF
'MODERN GERMANY: HER POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC PROBLEMS, ETC.'
'THE RISE AND DECLINE OF THE NETHERLANDS'
LONDON
SMITH, ELDER, & CO.
NEW YORK: CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS
1908
CONTENTS
| CHAPTER | PAGE |
| I. | 1 |
| II. | 10 |
| III. | 30 |
| IV. | 50 |
| V. | 92 |
| VI. | 115 |
| VII. | 131 |
| VIII. | 145 |
| IX. | 152 |
| X. | 160 |
| XI. | 170 |
| XII. | 183 |
| XIII. | 192 |
| XIV. | 207 |
| XV. | 209 |
| XVI. | 225 |
| XVII. | 240 |
| XVIII. | 261 |
| XIX. | 269 |
| XX. | 278 |
| XXI. | 285 |
| XXII. | 302 |
| XXIII. | 311 |
| XXIV. | 325 |
| XXV. | 330 |
| XXVI. | 354 |
| XXVII. | 364 |
| XXVIII. | 375 |
| XXIX. | 381 |
| XXX. | 394 |
| XXXI. | 404 |
| XXXII. | 411 |
| XXXIII. | 415 |
| XXXIV. | 431 |
| XXXV. | 440 |
| XXXVI. | 444 |
| XXXVII. | 470 |
| 481 |
| 493 |
| 509 |
BRITISH SOCIALISM
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTIONWHAT IS SOCIALISM?
What is Socialism?
It is exceedingly difficult to answer that question in a few words, for Socialism is exceedingly elusive and bewildering in its doctrines, its aims, and its proposals.
Its opponents have described it as "a doctrine of sordid materialism and of atheism," they have denounced it as "the gospel of everlasting bellyful,"
The Socialists, on the other hand, claim that "Socialism presents the only living ideal of human existence"
Other Socialists have taught that "Socialism is an ethical system founded on justice and truth; it is a heartfelt, soul-inspiring religion, resting upon the love of God."
Socialism is rich in promises, and its claims to our consideration and support are manifold. Are these claims justified or not? Are the Socialists or the Anti-Socialists right in their conception of Socialism?
The Socialists maintain that all opposition to Socialism is based either on self-interest or ignorance, and
There is much truth in these complaints. The general public and most writers and speakers know very little about Socialism, because this most interesting subject has been very inadequately treated in the existing books.
The existing books on Socialism describe, analyse, and criticise the Socialist doctrines only in the abstract as a rule. However, Socialism is not only an elaborate economic doctrine, it is at the same time a complete system of practical politics. Hence it does not suffice to study the doctrines of Socialism by themselves. In order to understand Socialism we must also investigate its practical proposals.
Following the methods of our political economists, most writers on Socialism have, unfortunately, treated Socialism rather as a scientific abstraction than as a business proposition. Consequently the most important practical details of Socialism, such as: What are the views of the Socialist with regard to the Monarchy, the Army, the Banks, the National Currency, the Law, Education? what are their practical aims as regards Parliamentary Representation, Foreign Policy, Agriculture, Taxation, Old-age Pensions, Fiscal Policy? what are their relations with the Parliamentary Parties, the Trade-Unions, the Co-operators, etc? what is their attitude towards International Communism and Anarchism? is English Socialism an Evolutionary or a Revolutionary Movement?these and many other questions are touched but lightly or are not touched at all.
It is somewhat difficult to deal fully with the practical proposals of the Socialists, because the Socialists are very averse from formulating their aims and disclosing their plans. An English Socialist wrote: "To dogmatise about the form which the Socialist State shall take is to play the fool." Socialists carefully abstain as a rule from giving us the details of that scheme.
The Socialists of all countries have very excellent reasons for keeping to themselves the details of their plans for the future. Nevertheless, a careful search through their numerous writings will enable us to obtain a fairly clear and comprehensive view of their political and economic plans and intentions.
Great Britain does not as yet possess a great Socialist party but only a number of Socialist groups and factions which are totally at variance as regards their aims, policy, and tactics. "They differ as to the best means of getting what they want, and as to the best ways of managing the work, and as to the proper way of sharing the earnings. Some Socialists still believe that Socialism will have to be got by force. I think there are not many. Some are in favour of buying the land, the railways, the machinery, and other things; and some are in favour of taking them, by force, or by new laws. Then some say that there should be no wages paid at all, but that everyone should do an equal share of work, and take whatever he needed from the nation's goods. Others say that all men should
Notwithstanding these numerous and important differences, of which more will be learned in the course of this book, British Socialists are absolutely united in certain important respects. "The policies of Socialism are a changeable quantity, though the principle is as fixed as the Northern Star."
A superficial study of Socialism reveals to us not a single and generally accepted plan, but a confused and confusing mass of mutually contradictory plans and doctrines. Therefore he who wishes to know what Socialism is, must study the many-headed movement in its entirety and give an impartial hearing to all its advocates. We can understand Socialism only if we are acquainted with practically its entire literature.
Unfortunately the literature of Socialism is very vast. A complete collection of modern Socialist literature would embrace at least thirty thousand items. Therefore a full analysis of international Socialism based upon the study of the original sources is a forbidding undertaking. I have consequently limited myself to the investigation of the British Socialist movement, although I have cast a cursory glance upon foreign Socialism whenever it seemed necessary to do so.
I have consulted altogether about a thousand books and pamphlets, and have given representative extracts from four hundred or five hundred of those which seemed most proper to elucidate the subject of this book. Having given space to the views of all the Socialist groups, this book is a summary of the whole literature of British Socialism and a key to it. It is based exclusively on first-hand evidence, and every statement contained in it can instantly be verified by reference to the original sources indicated in the footnotes. In the Bibliography at the end of this volume the full title, publisher's address, and date of publication of all sources drawn upon are given, so that readers will have no difficulty in procuring any Socialist books they may want for further study.
