Itisnecessarytostatewhatthismeans。Underthepresentsystemofwagesandcapitalthe\"manufacturer\"（mostabsurdlysocalled，sinceamanufacturermeansapersonwhomakeswithhishands）havingamonopolyofthemeanswherebythepowertolabourinherentineveryman’sbodycanbeusedforproduction，isthemasterofthosewhoarenotsoprivileged;he，andhealone，isabletomakeuseofthislabour—power，which，ontheotherhand，istheonlycommoditybymeansofwhichhis\"capital，\"thatistosay，theaccumulatedproductofpastlabour，canbemadeproductivetohim。Hethereforebuysthelabour—powerofthosewhoarebareofcapitalandcanonlylivebysellingittohim;hispurposeinthistransactionistoincreasehiscapital，tomakeitbreed。Itisclearthatifhepaidthosewithwhomhemakeshisbargainthefullvalueoftheirlabour，thatistosay，allthattheyproduced，hewouldfailinhispurpose。Butsinceheisthemonopolistofthemeansofproductivelabour，hecanCOMPEL
themtomakeabargainbetterforhimandworseforthemthanthat;
whichbargainisthataftertheyhaveearnedtheirlivelihood，estimatedaccordingtoastandardhighenoughtoensuretheirpeaceablesubmissiontohismastership，therest（andbyfarthelargerpartasamatteroffact）ofwhattheyproduceshallbelongtohim，shallbehisPROPERTYtodoashelikeswith，touseorabuseathispleasure;whichpropertyis，asweallknow，jealouslyguardedbyarmyandnavy，policeandprison;inshort，bythathugemassofphysicalforcewhichsuperstition，habit，fearofdeathbystarvation——IGNORANCE，inoneword，amongthepropertylessmassesenablesthepropertiedclassestouseforthesubjectionof——theirslaves。
Now，atothertimes，otherevilsresultingfromthissystemmaybeputforward。WhatIwanttopointoutnowistheimpossibilityofourattainingtoattractivelabourunderthissystem，andtorepeatthatitisthisrobbery（thereisnootherwordforit）whichwastestheavailablelabour—powerofthecivilizedworld，forcingmanymentodonothing，andmany，verymanymoretodonothinguseful;andforcingthosewhocarryonreallyusefullabourtomostburdensomeover—work。Forunderstandonceforallthatthe\"manufacturer\"aimsprimarilyatproducing，bymeansofthelabourhehasstolenfromothers，notgoodsbutprofits，thatis，the\"wealth\"thatisproducedoverandabovethelivelihoodofhisworkmen，andthewearandtearofhismachinery。Whetherthat\"wealth\"isrealorshammattersnothingtohim。Ifitsellsandyieldshima\"profit\"itisallright。Ihavesaidthat，owingtotherebeingrichpeoplewhohavemoremoneythantheycanspendreasonably，andwhothereforebuyshamwealth，thereiswasteonthatside;andalsothat，owingtotherebeingpoorpeoplewhocannotaffordtobuythingswhichareworthmaking，thereiswasteonthatside。Sothatthe\"demand\"whichthecapitalist\"supplies\"isafalsedemand。Themarketinwhichhesellsis\"rigged\"bythemiserableinequalitiesproducedbytherobberyofthesystemofCapitalandWages。
Itisthissystem，therefore，whichwemustberesoluteingettingridof，ifwearetoattaintohappyandusefulworkforall。Thefirststeptowardsmakinglabourattractiveistogetthemeansofmakinglabourfruitful，theCapital，includingtheland，machinery，factories，&c。，intothehandsofthecommunity，tobeusedforthegoodofallalike，sothatwemightallworkat\"supplying\"thereal\"demands\"ofeachandall——thatistosay，workforlivelihood，insteadofworkingtosupplythedemandoftheprofitmarket——insteadofworkingforprofit——i。e。，thepowerofcompellingothermentoworkagainsttheirwill。
WhenthisfirststephasbeentakenandmenbegintounderstandthatNaturewillsallmeneithertoworkorstarve，andwhentheyarenolongersuchfoolsastoallowsomethealternativeofstealing，whenthishappydayiscome，weshallthenberelievedfromthetaxofwaste，andconsequentlyshallfindthatwehave，asaforesaid，amassoflabour—poweravailable，whichwillenableustoliveaswepleasewithinreasonablelimits。Weshallnolongerbehurriedanddrivenbythefearofstarvation，whichatpresentpressesnolessonthegreaterpartofmenincivilizedcommunitiesthanitdoesonmeresavages。Thefirstandmostobviousnecessitieswillbesoeasilyprovidedforinacommunityinwhichthereisnowasteoflabour，thatweshallhavetimetolookroundandconsiderwhatwereallydowant，thatcanbeobtainedwithoutover—taxingourenergies;fortheoften—expressedfearofmereidlenessfallinguponuswhentheforcesuppliedbythepresenthierarchyofcompulsioniswithdrawn，isafearwhichisbutgeneratedbytheburdenofexcessiveandrepulsivelabour，whichwemostofushavetobearatpresent。
Isayoncemorethat，inmybelief，thefirstthingwhichweshallthinksonecessaryastobeworthsacrificingsomeidletimefor，willbetheattractivenessoflabour。Noveryheavysacrificewillberequiredforattainingthisobject，butsomeWILLberequired。
Forwemayhopethatmenwhohavejustwadedthroughaperiodofstrifeandrevolutionwillbethelasttoputuplongwithalifeofmereutilitarianism，thoughSocialistsaresometimesaccusedbyignorantpersonsofaimingatsuchalife。Ontheotherhand，theornamentalpartofmodernlifeisalreadyrottentothecore，andmustbeutterlysweptawaybeforetheneworderofthingsisrealized。Thereisnothingofit——thereisnothingwhichcouldcomeofitthatcouldsatisfytheaspirationsofmensetfreefromthetyrannyofcommercialism。
Wemustbegintobuilduptheornamentalpartoflife——itspleasures，bodilyandmental，scientificandartistic，socialandindividual——onthebasisofworkundertakenwillinglyandcheerfully，withtheconsciousnessofbenefitingourselvesandourneighboursbyit。Suchabsolutelynecessaryworkasweshouldhavetodowouldinthefirstplacetakeupbutasmallpartofeachday，andsofarwouldnotbeburdensome;butitwouldbeataskofdailyrecurrence，andthereforewouldspoilourday’spleasureunlessitweremadeatleastendurablewhileitlasted。Inotherwords，alllabour，eventhecommonest，mustbemadeattractive。
Howcanthisbedone？——isthequestiontheanswertowhichwilltakeuptherestofthispaper。Ingivingsomehintsonthisquestion，I
knowthat，whileallSocialistswillagreewithmanyofthesuggestionsmade，someofthemmayseemtosomestrangeandventuresome。Thesemustbeconsideredasbeinggivenwithoutanyintentionofdogmatizing，andasmerelyexpressingmyownpersonalopinion。
Fromallthathasbeensaidalreadyitfollowsthatlabour，tobeattractive，mustbedirectedtowardssomeobviouslyusefulend，unlessincaseswhereitisundertakenvoluntarilybyeachindividualasapastime。Thiselementofobvioususefulnessisallthemoretobecountedoninsweeteningtasksotherwiseirksome，sincesocialmorality，theresponsibilityofmantowardsthelifeofman，will，intheneworderofthings，taketheplaceoftheologicalmorality，ortheresponsibilityofmantosomeabstractidea。Next，theday’sworkwillbeshort。Thisneednotbeinsistedon。ItisclearthatwithworkunwasteditCANbeshort。Itisclearalsothatmuchworkwhichisnowatorment，wouldbeeasilyendurableifitweremuchshortened。
Varietyofworkisthenextpoint，andamostimportantone。Tocompelamantododayafterdaythesametask，withoutanyhopeofescapeorchange，meansnothingshortofturninghislifeintoaprison—torment。Nothingbutthetyrannyofprofit—grindingmakesthisnecessary。Amanmighteasilylearnandpractiseatleastthreecrafts，varyingsedentaryoccupationwithoutdoor——occupationcallingfortheexerciseofstrongbodilyenergyforworkinwhichthemindhadmoretodo。Therearefewmen，forinstance，whowouldnotwishtospendpartoftheirlivesinthemostnecessaryandpleasantestofallwork——cultivatingtheearth。Onethingwhichwillmakethisvarietyofemploymentpossiblewillbetheformthateducationwilltakeinasociallyorderedcommunity。Atpresentalleducationisdirectedtowardstheendoffittingpeopletotaketheirplacesinthehierarchyofcommerce——theseasmasters，thoseasworkmen。Theeducationofthemastersismoreornamentalthanthatoftheworkmen，butitiscommercialstill;andevenattheancientuniversitieslearningisbutlittleregarded，unlessitcaninthelongrunbemadeTOPAY。Dueeducationisatotallydifferentthingfromthis，andconcernsitselfinfindingoutwhatdifferentpeoplearefitfor，andhelpingthemalongtheroadwhichtheyareinclinedtotake。Inadulyorderedsociety，therefore，youngpeoplewouldbetaughtsuchhandicraftsastheyhadaturnforasapartoftheireducation，thedisciplineoftheirmindsandbodies;andadultswouldalsohaveopportunitiesoflearninginthesameschools，forthedevelopmentofindividualcapacitieswouldbeofallthingschieflyaimedatbyeducation，instead，asnow，thesubordinationofallcapacitiestothegreatendof\"money—making\"foroneself——orone’smaster。Theamountoftalent，andevengenius，whichthepresentsystemcrushes，andwhichwouldbedrawnoutbysuchasystem，wouldmakeourdailyworkeasyandinteresting。
UnderthisheadofvarietyIwillnoteoneproductofindustrywhichhassufferedsomuchfromcommercialismthatitcanscarcelybesaidtoexist，andis，indeed，soforeignfromourepochthatIfeartherearesomewhowillfinditdifficulttounderstandwhatIhavetosayonthesubject，whichIneverthelessmustsay，sinceitisreallyamostimportantone。Imeanthatsideofartwhichis，oroughttobe，donebytheordinaryworkmanwhileheisabouthisordinarywork，andwhichhasgottobecalled，veryproperly，PopularArt。Thisart，Irepeat，nolongerexistsnow，havingbeenkilledbycommercialism。Butfromthebeginningofman’scontestwithNaturetilltheriseofthepresentcapitalisticsystem，itwasalive，andgenerallyflourished。Whileitlasted，everythingthatwasmadebymanwasadornedbyman，justaseverythingmadebyNatureisadornedbyher。Thecraftsman，ashefashionedthethinghehadunderhishand，ornamenteditsonaturallyandsoentirelywithoutconsciouseffort，thatitisoftendifficulttodistinguishwherethemereutilitarianpartofhisworkendedandtheornamentalbegan。Nowtheoriginofthisartwasthenecessitythattheworkmanfeltforvarietyinhiswork，andthoughthebeautyproducedbythisdesirewasagreatgifttotheworld，yettheobtainingvarietyandpleasureintheworkbytheworkmanwasamatterofmoreimportancestill，foritstampedalllabourwiththeimpressofpleasure。Allthishasnowquitedisappearedfromtheworkofcivilization。Ifyouwishtohaveornament，youmustpayspeciallyforit，andtheworkmaniscompelledtoproduceornament，asheistoproduceotherwares。Heiscompelledtopretendhappinessinhiswork，sothatthebeautyproducedbyman’shand，whichwasonceasolacetohislabour，hasnowbecomeanextraburdentohim，andornamentisnowbutoneofthefolliesofuselesstoil，andperhapsnottheleastirksomeofitsfetters。
Besidestheshortdurationoflabour，itsconscioususefulness，andthevarietywhichshouldgowithit，thereisanotherthingneededtomakeitattractive，andthatispleasantsurroundings。Themiseryandsqualorwhichwepeopleofcivilizationbearwithsomuchcomplacencyasanecessarypartofthemanufacturingsystem，isjustasnecessarytothecommunityatlargeasaproportionateamountoffilthwouldbeinthehouseofaprivaterichman。Ifsuchamanweretoallowthecinderstoberakedalloverhisdrawing—room，andaprivytobeestablishedineachcornerofhisdining—room，ifhehabituallymadeadustandrefuseheapofhisoncebeautifulgarden，neverwashedhissheetsorchangedhistablecloth，andmadehisfamilysleepfiveinabed，hewouldsurelyfindhimselfintheclawsofacommissiondelunatico。Butsuchactsofmiserlyfollyarejustwhatourpresentsocietyisdoingdailyunderthecompulsionofasupposednecessity，whichisnothingshortofmadness。Ibegyoutobringyourcommissionoflunacyagainstcivilizationwithoutmoredelay。
Forallourcrowdedtownsandbewilderingfactoriesaresimplytheoutcomeoftheprofitsystem。Capitalisticmanufacture，capitalisticland—owning，andcapitalisticexchangeforcemenintobigcitiesinordertomanipulatethemintheinterestsofcapital;thesametyrannycontractstheduespaceofthefactorysomuchthat（forinstance）theinteriorofagreatweaving—shedisalmostasridiculousaspectacleasitisahorribleone。Thereisnoothernecessityforallthis，savethenecessityforgrindingprofitsoutofmen’slives，andofproducingcheapgoodsfortheuse（andsubjection）oftheslaveswhogrind。Alllabourisnotyetdrivenintofactories;oftenwhereitisthereisnonecessityforit，saveagaintheprofit—tyranny。Peopleengagedinallsuchlabourneedbynomeansbecompelledtopigtogetherinclosecityquarters。Thereisnoreasonwhytheyshouldnotfollowtheiroccupationsinquietcountryhomes，inindustrialcolleges，insmalltowns，or，inshort，wheretheyfindithappiestforthemtolive。
Astothatpartoflabourwhichmustbeassociatedonalargescale，thisveryfactorysystem，underareasonableorderofthings（thoughtomymindtheremightstillbedrawbackstoit），wouldatleastofferopportunitiesforafullandeagersociallifesurroundedbymanypleasures。Thefactoriesmightbecentresofintellectualactivityalso，andworkinthemmightwellbevariedverymuch：thetendingofthenecessarymachinerymighttoeachindividualbebutashortpartoftheday’swork。Theotherworkmightvaryfromraisingfoodfromthesurroundingcountrytothestudyandpracticeofartandscience。Itisamatterofcoursethatpeopleengagedinsuchwork，andbeingthemastersoftheirownlives，wouldnotallowanyhurryorwantofforesighttoforcethemintoenduringdirt，disorder，orwantofroom。Sciencedulyappliedwouldenablethemtogetridofrefuse，tominimize，ifnotwhollytodestroy，alltheinconvenienceswhichatpresentattendtheuseofelaboratemachinery，suchassmoke，stenchandnoise;norwouldtheyendurethatthebuildingsinwhichtheyworkedorlivedshouldbeuglyblotsonthefairfaceoftheearth。Beginningbymakingtheirfactories，buildings，andshedsdecentandconvenientliketheirhomes，theywouldinfalliblygoontomakethemnotmerelynegativelygood，inoffensivemerely，butevenbeautiful，sothatthegloriousartofarchitecture，nowforsometimeslainbycommercialgreed，wouldbebornagainandflourish。
So，yousee，Iclaimthatworkinadulyorderedcommunityshouldbemadeattractivebytheconsciousnessofusefulness，byitsbeingcarriedonwithintelligentinterest，byvariety，andbyitsbeingexercisedamidstpleasurablesurroundings。ButIhavealsoclaimed，aswealldo，thattheday’sworkshouldnotbewearisomelylong。Itmaybesaid，\"Howcanyoumakethislastclaimsquarewiththeothers？Iftheworkistobesorefined，willnotthegoodsmadebeveryexpensive？\"
Idoadmit，asIhavesaidbefore，thatsomesacrificewillbenecessaryinordertomakelabourattractive。Imeanthat，ifweCOULDbecontentedinafreecommunitytoworkinthesamehurried，dirty，disorderly，heartlesswayaswedonow，wemightshortenourday’slabourverymuchmorethanIsupposeweshalldo，takingallkindsoflabourintoaccount。Butifwedid，itwouldmeanthatournew—wonfreedomofconditionwouldleaveuslistlessandwretched，ifnotanxious，aswearenow，whichIholdissimplyimpossible。Weshouldbecontentedtomakethesacrificesnecessaryforraisingourconditiontothestandardcalledoutforasdesirablebythewholecommunity。Noronlyso。Weshould，individually，beemuloustosacrificequitefreelystillmoreofourtimeandoureasetowardstheraisingofthestandardoflife。Persons，eitherbythemselvesorassociatedforsuchpurposes，wouldfreely，andfortheloveoftheworkandforitsresults——stimulatedbythehopeofthepleasureofcreation——producethoseornamentsoflifefortheserviceofall，whichtheyarenowbribedtoproduce（orpretendtoproduce）fortheserviceofafewrichmen。Theexperimentofacivilizedcommunitylivingwhollywithoutartorliteraturehasnotyetbeentried。Thepastdegradationandcorruptionofcivilizationmayforcethisdenialofpleasureuponthesocietywhichwillarisefromitsashes。Ifthatmustbe，wewillacceptthepassingphaseofutilitarianismasafoundationfortheartwhichistobe。Ifthecrippleandthestarvelingdisappearfromourstreets，iftheearthnourishusallalike，ifthesunshineforallofusalike，iftooneandallofusthegloriousdramaoftheearth——dayandnight，summerandwinter——
canbepresentedasathingtounderstandandlove，wecanaffordtowaitawhiletillwearepurifiedfromtheshameofthepastcorruption，andtillartarisesagainamongstpeoplefreedfromtheterroroftheslaveandtheshameoftherobber。
Meantime，inanycase，therefinement，thoughtfulness，anddeliberationoflabourmustindeedbepaidfor，butnotbycompulsiontolabourlonghours。Ourepochhasinventedmachineswhichwouldhaveappearedwilddreamstothemenofpastages，andofthosemachineswehaveasyetMADENOUSE。
Theyarecalled\"labour—saving\"machines——acommonlyusedphrasewhichimplieswhatweexpectofthem;butwedonotgetwhatweexpect。Whattheyreallydoistoreducetheskilledlabourertotheranksoftheunskilled，toincreasethenumberofthe\"reservearmyoflabour\"——thatis，toincreasetheprecariousnessoflifeamongtheworkersandtointensifythelabourofthosewhoservethemachines（asslavestheirmasters）。Allthistheydobytheway，whiletheypileuptheprofitsoftheemployersoflabour，orforcethemtoexpendthoseprofitsinbittercommercialwarwitheachother。Inatruesocietythesemiraclesofingenuitywouldbeforthefirsttimeusedforminimizingtheamountoftimespentinunattractivelabour，whichbytheirmeansmightbesoreducedastobebutaverylightburdenoneachindividual。Allthemoreasthesemachineswouldmostcertainlybeverymuchimprovedwhenitwasnolongeraquestionastowhethertheirimprovementwould\"pay\"theindividual，butratherwhetheritwouldbenefitthecommunity。
Somuchfortheordinaryuseofmachinery，whichwouldprobably，afteratime，besomewhatrestrictedwhenmenfoundoutthattherewasnoneedforanxietyastomeresubsistence，andlearnedtotakeaninterestandpleasureinhandiworkwhich，donedeliberatelyandthoughtfully，couldbemademoreattractivethanmachinework。
Again，aspeoplefreedfromthedailyterrorofstarvationfindoutwhattheyreallywanted，beingnolongercompelledbyanythingbuttheirownneeds，theywouldrefusetoproducethemereinanitieswhicharenowcalledluxuries，orthepoisonandtrashnowcalledcheapwares。Noonewouldmakeplushbreecheswhentherewerenoflunkiestowearthem，norwouldanybodywastehistimeovermakingoleomargarinewhennoonewasCOMPELLEDtoabstainfromrealbutter。
Adulterationlawsareonlyneededinasocietyofthieves——andinsuchasocietytheyareadeadletter。
Socialistsareoftenaskedhowworkoftherougherandmorerepulsivekindcouldbecarriedoutinthenewconditionofthings。Toattempttoanswersuchquestionsfullyorauthoritativelywouldbeattemptingtheimpossibilityofconstructingaschemeofanewsocietyoutofthematerialsoftheold，beforeweknewwhichofthosematerialswoulddisappearandwhichendurethroughtheevolutionwhichisleadingustothegreatchange。Yetitisnotdifficulttoconceiveofsomearrangementwherebythosewhodidtheroughestworkshouldworkfortheshortestspells。Andagain，whatissaidaboveofthevarietyofworkappliesspeciallyhere。OncemoreIsay，thatforamantobethewholeofhislifehopelesslyengagedinperformingonerepulsiveandnever—endingtask，isanarrangementfitenoughforthehellimaginedbytheologians，butscarcelyfitforanyotherformofsociety。Lastly，ifthisrougherworkwereofanyspecialkind，wemaysupposethatspecialvolunteerswouldbecalledontoperformit，whowouldsurelybeforthcoming，unlessmeninastateoffreedomshouldlosethesparksofmanlinesswhichtheypossessedasslaves。
Andyetiftherebeanyworkwhichcannotbemadeotherthanrepulsive，eitherbytheshortnessofitsdurationortheintermittencyofitsrecurrence，orbythesenseofspecialandpeculiarusefulness（andthereforehonour）inthemindofthemanwhoperformsitfreely，——iftherebeanyworkwhichcannotbebutatormenttotheworker，whatthen？Well，then，letusseeiftheheavenswillfallonusifweleaveitundone，foritwerebetterthattheyshould。Theproduceofsuchworkcannotbeworththepriceofit。
Nowwehaveseenthatthesemi—theologicaldogmathatalllabour，underanycircumstances，isablessingtothelabourer，ishypocriticalandfalse;that，ontheotherhand，labourisgoodwhenduehopeofrestandpleasureaccompaniesit。Wehaveweighedtheworkofcivilizationinthebalanceandfounditwanting，sincehopeismostlylackingtoit，andthereforeweseethatcivilizationhasbredadirecurseformen。Butwehaveseenalsothattheworkoftheworldmightbecarriedoninhopeandwithpleasureifitwerenotwastedbyfollyandtyranny，bytheperpetualstrifeofopposingclasses。
ItisPeace，therefore，whichweneedinorderthatwemayliveandworkinhopeandwithpleasure。Peacesomuchdesired，ifwemaytrustmen’swords，butwhichhasbeensocontinuallyandsteadilyrejectedbythemindeeds。Butforus，letussetourheartsonitandwinitatwhatevercost。
Whatthecostmaybe，whocantell？Willitbepossibletowinpeacepeaceably？Alas，howcanitbe？Wearesohemmedinbywrongandfolly，thatinonewayorotherwemustalwaysbefightingagainstthem：ourownlivesmayseenoendtothestruggle，perhapsnoobvioushopeoftheend。Itmaybethatthebestwecanhopetoseeisthatstrugglegettingsharperandbittererdaybyday，untilitbreaksoutopenlyatlastintotheslaughterofmenbyactualwarfareinsteadofbytheslowerandcruellermethodsof\"peaceful\"commerce。
Ifwelivetoseethat，weshalllivetoseemuch;foritwillmeantherichclassesgrownconsciousoftheirownwrongandrobbery，andconsciouslydefendingthembyopenviolence;andthentheendwillbedrawingnear。
Butinanycase，andwhateverthenatureofourstrifeforpeacemaybe，ifweonlyaimatitsteadilyandwithsinglenessofheart，andeverkeepitinview，areflectionfromthatpeaceofthefuturewillilluminetheturmoilandtroubleofourlives，whetherthetroublebeseeminglypetty，orobviouslytragic;andweshall，inourhopesatleast，livethelivesofmen：norcanthepresenttimesgiveusanyrewardgreaterthanthat。
DAWNOFANEWEPOCH
Perhapssomeofmyreadersmaythinkthattheabovetitleisnotacorrectone：itmaybesaid，anewepochisalwaysdawning，changeisalwaysgoingon，anditgoesonsograduallythatwedonotknowwhenweareoutofanoldepochandintoanewone。Thereistruthinthat，atleasttothisextent，thatnoagecanseeitself：wemuststandsomewayoffbeforetheconfusedpicturewithitsruggedsurfacecanresolveitselfintoitsdueorder，andseemtobesomethingwithadefinitepurposecarriedthroughallitsdetails。
Nevertheless，whenwelookbackonhistorywedodistinguishperiodsinthelapseoftimethatarenotmerelyarbitraryones，wenotetheearlygrowthoftheideaswhicharetoformtheneworderofthings，wenotetheirdevelopmentintothetransitionalperiod，andfinallythenewepochisrevealedtousbearinginitsfulldevelopment，unseenasyet，theseedsofthenewerorderstillwhichshalltransformitinitsturnintosomethingelse。
Moreover，thereareperiodsinwhicheventhosealiveinthembecomemoreorlessconsciousofthechangewhichisalwaysgoingon;theoldideaswhichwereoncesoexcitingtomen’simaginations，nowceasetomovethem，thoughtheymaybeacceptedasdullandnecessaryplatitudes：thematerialcircumstancesofman’slifewhichwereonceonlystruggledwithindetail，andonlyaccordingtoakindoflawmademanifestintheirworking，areinsuchtimesconsciousofchange，andareonlyacceptedunderprotestuntilsomemeanscanbefoundtoalterthem。Theoldanddyingorder，oncesilentandall—
powerful，triestoexpressitselfviolently，andbecomesatoncenoisyandweak。Thenascentorderoncetooweaktobeconsciousofneedofexpression，orcapableofitifitwere，becomesconsciousnowandfindsavoice。Thesilentsapoftheyearsisbeinglaidasideforopenassault;themenaregatheringunderarmsinthetrenches，andtheforlornhopeisready，nolongertriflingwithlittlesolacementsofthetimeofwearywaiting，butlookingforwardtomeredeathorthejoyofvictory。
NowIthink，andsomewhoreadthiswillagreewithme，thatwearenowlivinginoneofthesetimesofconsciouschange;wenotonlyare，butwealsofeelourselvestobelivingbetweentheoldandthenew;weareexpectingsomethingtohappen，asthephrasegoes：atsuchtimesitbehovesustounderstandwhatistheoldwhichisdying，whatisthenewwhichiscomingintoexistence？Thatisaquestionpracticallyimportanttousall，sincetheseperiodsofconsciouschangearealso，inonewayorother，timesofseriouscombat，andeachofus，ifhedoesnotlooktoitandlearntounderstandwhatisgoingon，mayfindhimselffightingonthewrongside，thesidewithwhichhereallydoesnotsympathize。
Whatisthecombatwearenowenteringupon——whoisittobefoughtbetween？AbsolutismandDemocracy，perhapssomewillanswer。Notquite，Ithink;thatcontestwaspracticallysettledbythegreatFrenchRevolution;itisonlyitsemberswhichareburningnow：oratleastthatissointhecountrieswhicharenotbelatedlikeRussia，forinstance。Democracy，oratleastwhatusedtobeconsideredDemocracy，isnowtriumphant;andthoughitistruethattherearecountrieswherefreedomofspeechisrepressedbesidesRussia，ase。g。，GermanyandIreland，{6}thatonlyhappenswhentherulersofthetriumphantDemocracyarebeginningtobeafraidoftheneworderofthings，nowbecomingconsciousofitself，andarebeingdrivenintoreactioninconsequence。No，itisnotAbsolutismandDemocracyastheFrenchRevolutionunderstoodthosetwowordsthataretheenemiesnow：theissueisdeeperthanitwas;thetwofoesarenowMastershipandFellowship。Thisisafarmoreseriousquarrelthantheoldone，andinvolvesamuchcompleterrevolution。
Thegroundsofconflictarereallyquitedifferent。Democracysaidandsays，menshallnotbethemastersofothers，becausehereditaryprivilegehasmadearaceorafamilyso，andtheyhappentobelongtosuchrace;theyshallindividuallygrowintobeingthemastersofothersbythedevelopmentofcertainqualitiesunderasystemofauthoritywhichARTIFICIALLYprotectsthewealthofeveryman，ifhehasacquireditinaccordancewiththisartificialsystem，fromtheinterferenceofeveryother，orfromallotherscombined。
Theneworderofthingssays，onthecontrary，whyhavemastersatall？letusbeFELLOWSworkingintheharmonyofassociationforthecommongood，thatis，forthegreatesthappinessandcompletestdevelopmentofeveryhumanbeinginthecommunity。
Thisidealandhopeofanewsocietyfoundedonindustrialpeaceandforethought，bearingwithititsownethics，aimingatanewandhigherlifeforallmen，hasreceivedthegeneralnameofSocialism，anditismyfirmbeliefthatitisdestinedtosupersedetheoldorderofthingsfoundedonindustrialwar，andtobethenextstepintheprogressofhumanity。
Now，sinceImustexplainfurtherwhataretheaimsofSocialism，theidealofthenewepoch，IfindthatImustbeginbyexplainingtoyouwhatistheconstitutionoftheoldorderwhichitisdestinedtosupplant。IfIcanmakethatcleartoyou，IshallhavealsomadecleartoyouthefirstaimofSocialism：forIhavesaidthatthepresentanddecayingorderofthings，likethosewhichhavegonebeforeit，hastobeproppedupbyasystemofartificialauthority;
whenthatartificialauthorityhasbeensweptaway，harmoniousassociationwillbefeltbyallmentobeanecessityoftheirhappyandundegradedexistenceontheearth，andSocialismwillbecometheconditionunderwhichweshallalllive，anditwilldevelopnaturally，andprobablywithnoviolentconflict，whateverdetailedsystemmaybenecessary：Isaythestrugglewillnotbeoverthesedetails，whichwillsurelyvaryaccordingtothedifferenceofunchangeablenaturalsurroundings，butoverthequestion，shallitbemastershiporfellowship？
Letusseethenwhatistheconditionofsocietyunderthelastdevelopmentofmastership，thecommercialsystem，whichhastakentheplaceoftheFeudalsystem。
Likeallothersystemsofsociety，itisfoundedonthenecessityofmanconqueringhissubsistencefromNaturebylabour，andalso，likemostothersystemsthatweknowof，itpresupposestheunequaldistributionoflabouramongdifferentclassesofsociety，andtheunequaldistributionoftheresultsofthatlabour：itdoesnotdifferinthatrespectfromthesystemwhichitsupplanted;ithasonlyalteredthemethodwherebythatunequaldistributionshouldbearranged。Therearestillrichpeopleandpoorpeopleamongstus，astherewereintheMiddleAges;nay，thereisnodoubtthat，relativelyatleasttothesumofwealthexisting，thericharericherandthepoorarepoorernowthantheywerethen。Howeverthatmaybe，inanycasenowasthentherearepeoplewhohavemuchworkandlittlewealthlivingbesideotherpeoplewhohavemuchwealthandlittlework。Therichestarestilltheidlest，andthosewhoworkhardestandperformthemostpainfultasksaretheworstrewardedfortheirlabour。
Tome，andIshouldhopetomyreaders，thisseemsgrosslyunfair;
andImayremindyouherethattheworldhasalwayshadasenseofitsinjustice。Forcenturyaftercentury，whilesocietyhasstrenuouslybolsteredupthisinjusticeforciblyandartificially，ithasprofessedbeliefinphilosophies，codesofethics，andreligionswhichhaveinculcatedjusticeandfairdealingbetweenmen：nay，someofthemhavegonesofarastobidusbearoneanother’sburdens，andhaveputbeforementheduty，andinthelongrunthepleasure，ofthestrongworkingfortheweak，thewiseforthefoolish，thehelpfulforthehelpless;andyetthesepreceptsofmoralityhavebeensetasideinpracticeaspersistentlyastheyhavebeenpreachedintheory;andnaturallyso，sincetheyattacktheverybasisofclasssociety。IasaSocialistamboundtopreachthemtoyouoncemore，assuringyouthattheyarenomerefoolishdreamsbiddingustodowhatwenowmustacknowledgetobeimpossible，butreasonablerulesofaction，goodforourdefenceagainstthetyrannyofNature。Anyhow，honestmenhavethechoicebeforethemofeitherputtingthesetheoriesinpracticeorrejectingthemaltogether。Iftheywillbutfacethatdilemma，Ithinkweshallsoonhaveanewworldofit;yetIfeartheywillfindithardtodoso：thetheoryisold，andwehavegotusedtoitanditsformofwords：thepracticeisnew，andwouldinvolveresponsibilitieswehavenotyetthoughtmuchof。
Nowthegreatdifferencebetweenourpresentsystemandthatofthefeudalperiodisthat，asfarastheconditionsoflifeareconcerned，alldistinctionofclassesisabolishedexceptthatbetweenrichandpoor：societyisthussimplified;thearbitrarydistinctionisgone，therealoneremainsandisfarmorestringentthanthearbitraryonewas。Onceallsocietywasrude，therewaslittlerealdifferencebetweenthegentlemanandthenon—gentleman，andyouhadtodressthemdifferentlyfromoneanotherinordertodistinguishthem。Butnowawell—to—domanisarefinedandcultivatedbeing，enjoyingtothefullhisshareoftheconquestoverNaturewhichthemodernworldhasachieved，whilethepoormanisrudeanddegraded，andhasnoshareinthewealthconqueredbymodernsciencefromNature：heiscertainlynobetterastomaterialconditionthantheserfoftheMiddleAges，perhapsheisworse：tomymindheisatleastworsethanthesavagelivinginagoodclimate。
Idonotthinkthatanythoughtfulmanseriouslydeniesthis：letustrytoseewhatbringsitabout;letusseeitasclearlyasweallseethatthehereditaryprivilegeofthenoblecaste，andtheconsequentserfslaveryoftheworkersoftheMiddleAges，broughtaboutthepeculiarconditionsofthatperiod。
Societyisnowdividedbetweentwoclasses，thosewhomonopolizeallthemeansoftheproductionofwealthsaveone;andthosewhopossessnothingexceptthatone，thePowerofLabour。Thatpoweroflabourisuselesstoitspossessors，andcannotbeexercisedwithoutthehelpoftheothermeansofproduction;butthosewhohavenothingbutlabour—power——i。e。，whohavenomeansofmakingothersworkforthem，mustworkforthemselvesinordertolive;andtheymustthereforeapplytotheownersofthemeansoffructifyinglabour——i。e。，theland，machinery，&c。，forleavetoworkthattheymaylive。Thepossessingclass（asforshortwewillcallthem）arequitepreparedtograntthisleave，andindeedtheymustgrantitiftheyaretousethelabour—powerofthenon—possessingclassfortheirownadvantage，whichistheirspecialprivilege。ButthatprivilegeenablesthemtoCOMPELthenon—possessingclasstosellthemtheirlabour—powerontermswhichensurethecontinuanceoftheirmonopoly。Thesetermsareattheoutsetverysimple。Thepossessingclass，ormasters，allowthemenjustsomuchofthewealthproducedbytheirlabouraswillgivethemsuchalivelihoodasisconsiderednecessaryatthetime，andwillpermitthemtobreedandrearchildrentoaworkingage：thatisthesimpleconditionofthe\"bargain\"whichobtainswhenthelabour—powerrequiredislowinquality，whatiscalledunskilledlabour，andwhentheworkersaretooweakorignoranttocombinesoastothreatenthemasterswithsomeformofrebellion。
Whenskilledlabouriswanted，andthelabourerhasconsequentlycostmoretoproduce，andisrarertobefound，thepriceofthearticleishigher：asalsowhenthecommoditylabourtakestothinkingandremembersthatafterallitisalsomen，andasaforesaidholdsoutthreatstothemasters;inthatcasetheyfortheirpartgenerallythinkitprudenttogiveway，whenthecompetitionofthemarketallowsthemtodoso，andsothestandardoflivelihoodfortheworkersrises。
Buttospeakplainly，thegreaterpartoftheworkers，inspiteofstrikesandTrades’Unions，dogetlittlemorethanabaresubsistencewage，andwhentheygrowsickoroldtheywoulddieoutrightifitwerenotfortherefugeaffordedthembytheworkhouse，whichispurposelymadeasprison—likeandwretchedaspossible，inordertopreventthelower—paidworkersfromtakingrefugeinitbeforethetimeoftheirINDUSTRIALdeath。
Nowcomesthequestionastohowthemastersareabletoforcethementoselltheircommoditylabour—powersodirt—cheapwithouttreatingthemastheancientstreatedtheirslaves——i。e。，withthewhip。Well，ofcourseyouunderstandthatthemasterhavingpaidhisworkmenwhattheycanliveupon，andhavingpaidforthewearandtearofmachineryandotherexpensesofthatkind，hasforhissharewhateverremainsoverandabove，THEWHOLEOFWHICHHEGETSFROMTHE
EXERCISEOFTHELABOUR—POWERPOSSESSEDBYTHEWORKER：heisanxiousthereforetomakethemostofthisprivilege，andcompeteswithhisfellow—manufacturerstotheutmostinthemarket：sothatthedistributionofwaresisorganizedonagamblingbasis，andasaconsequencemanymorehandsareneededwhentradeisbriskthanwhenitisslack，oreveninanordinarycondition：underthestimulusalsoofthelustforacquiringthissurplusvalueoflabour，thegreatmachinesofourepochwereinventedandareyearlyimproved，andtheyactonlabourinathreefoldway：firsttheygetridofmanyhands;nexttheylowerthequalityofthelabourrequired，sothatskilledworkiswantedlessandless;thirdly，theimprovementinthemforcestheworkerstoworkharderwhiletheyareatwork，asnotablyinthecotton—spinningindustry。Alsoinmosttradeswomenandchildrenareemployed，towhomitisnotevenpretendedthatasubsistencewageisgiven。Owingtoallthesecauses，thereservearmyoflabournecessarytoourpresentsystemofmanufacturesforthegamblingmarket，theintroductionoflabour—savingmachines（laboursavedforthemaster，mindyou，nottheman），andtheintensifyingofthelabourwhileitlasts，theemploymentoftheauxiliarylabourofwomenandchildren：owingtoallthisthereareinordinaryyearseven，notmerelyinspeciallybadyearslikethecurrentone，{7}moreworkersthanthereisworkforthemtodo。Theworkersthereforeunderselloneanotherindisposingoftheironecommodity，labour—power，andareforcedtodoso，ortheywouldnotbeallowedtowork，andthereforewouldhavetostarveorgototheprisoncalledtheworkhouse。Thisiswhythemastersatthepresentdayareabletodispensewiththeexerciseofobviousviolencewhichinbygonetimestheyusedtowardstheirslaves。
ThisthenisthefirstdistinctionbetweenthetwogreatclassesofmodernSociety：theupperclasspossesseswealth，thelowerlackswealth;butthereisanotherdistinctiontowhichIwillnowdrawyourattention：theclasswhichlackswealthistheclassthatproducesit，theclassthatpossessesitdoesnotproduceit，itconsumesitonly。Ifbyanychancetheso—calledlowerclassweretoperishorleavethecommunity，productionofwealthwouldcometoastandstill，untilthewealth—ownershadlearnedhowtoproduce，untiltheyhaddescendedfromtheirposition，andhadtakentheplaceoftheirformerslaves。Ifonthecontrary，thewealth—ownersweretodisappear，productionofwealthwouldattheworstbeonlyhinderedforawhile，andprobablywouldgoonprettymuchasitdoesnow。
Butyoumaysay，thoughitiscertainthatsomeofthewealth—owners，aslandlords，holdersoffunds，andthelikedonothing，yettherearemanyofthemwhoworkhard。Well，thatistrue，andperhapsnothingsoclearlyshowstheextremefollyofthepresentsystemthanthisfactthattherearesomanyableandindustriousmenemployedbyit，inworkinghardat——nothing：nothingorworse。Theywork，buttheydonotproduce。
Itistruethatsomeusefuloccupationsareinthehandsoftheprivilegedclasses，physic，education，andthefinearts，e。g。Themenwhoworkattheseoccupationsarecertainlyworkingusefully;andallthatwecansayagainstthemisthattheyaresometimespaidtoohighinproportiontothepayofotherusefulpersons，whichhighpayisgiventheminrecognitionoftheirbeingtheparasitesofthepossessingclasses。Butevenastonumbersthesearenotaverylargepartofthepossessorsofwealth，and，astothewealththeyhold，itisquiteinsignificantcomparedwiththatheldbythosewhodonothinguseful。
Oftheselast，some，asweallagree，donotpretendtodoanythingexceptamusethemselves，andprobablythesearetheleastharmfuloftheuselessclasses。Thenthereareotherswhofollowoccupationswhichwouldhavenoplaceinareasonableconditionofsociety，as，e。g。，lawyers，judges，jailers，andsoldiersofthehighergrades，andmostGovernmentofficials。Finallycomesthemuchgreatergroupofthosewhoareengagedingamblingorfightingfortheirindividualsharesofthetributewhichtheirclasscompelstheworking—classtoyieldtoit：thesearethegroupthatonecallsbroadlybusinessmen，theconductorsofourcommerce，ifyoupleasetocallthemso。
Toextractagoodproportionofthistribute，andtokeepasmuchaspossibleofitwhenextractedforoneself，isthemainbusinessoflifeforthesemen，thatis，formostwell—to—doandrichpeople;itiscalled，quiteinaccurately，\"money—making;\"andthosewhoaremostsuccessfulinthisoccupationare，inspiteofallhypocriticalpretencestothecontrary，thepersonsmostrespectedbythepublic。
Awordortwoastothetributeextractedfromtheworkersasaforesaid。Itisnotrifle，butamountstoatleasttwo—thirdsofallthattheworkerproduces;butyoumustunderstandthatitisnotalltakendirectlyfromtheworkmanbyhisimmediateemployer，butbytheemployingclass。Besidesthetributeorprofitofthedirectemployer，whichisinallcasesasmuchashecangetamidsthiscompetitionorwarwithotheremployers，theworkerhasalsotopaytaxesinvariousforms，andthegreaterpartofthewealthsoextortedisatthebestmerelywasted：andremember，whoeverSEEMS
topaythetaxes，labourinthelongrunistheonlyrealtaxpayer。
Thenhehastopayhouse—rent，andverymuchheavierrentinproportiontohisearningsthanwell—to—dopeoplehave。Hehasalsotopaythecommissionofthemiddle—menwhodistributethegoodswhichhehasmade，inawaysowastefulthatnowallthinkingpeoplecryoutagainstit，thoughtheyarequitehelplessagainstitinourpresentsociety。Finally，hehasoftentopayanextrataxintheshapeofacontributiontoabenefitsocietyortrades’union，whichisreallyataxontheprecariousnessofhisemploymentcausedbythegamblingofhismastersinthemarket。Inshort，besidestheprofitortheresultofunpaidlabourwhichheyieldstohisimmediatemasterhehastogivebackalargepartofhiswagestotheclassofwhichhismasterisapart。
Theprivilegeofthepossessingclassthereforeconsistsintheirlivingonthistribute，theythemselveseithernotworkingorworkingunproductively——i。e。，livingonthelabourofothers;nootherwisethanasthemasterofancientdayslivedonthelabourofhisslave，orasthebaronlivedonthelabourofhisserf。Ifthecapitaloftherichmanconsistsofland，heisabletoforceatenanttoimprovehislandforhimandpayhimtributeintheformofrack—
rent;andattheendofthetransactionhashislandagain，generallyimproved，sothathecanbeginagainandgoonforever，heandhisheirs，doingnothing，amereburdenonthecommunityforever，whileothersareworkingforhim。Ifhehashousesonhislandhehasrentforthemalso，oftenreceivingthevalueofthebuildingmanytimesover，andintheendhouseandlandoncemore。Notseldomapieceofbarrengroundorswamp，worthnothinginitself，becomesasourceofhugefortunetohimfromthedevelopmentofatownoradistrict，andhepocketstheresultsofthelabourofthousandsuponthousandsofmen，andcallsithisproperty：ortheearthbeneaththesurfaceisfoundtoberichincoalorminerals，andagainhemustbepaidvastsumsforallowingotherstolabourthemintomarketablewares，towhichlabourhecontributesnothing。
Oragain，ifhiscapitalconsistsofcash，hegoesintothelabourmarketandbuysthelabour—powerofmen，womenandchildren，andusesitfortheproductionofwareswhichshallbringhiminaprofit，buyingitofcourseatthelowestpricethathecan，availinghimselfoftheirnecessitiestokeeptheirlivelihooddowntothelowestpointwhichtheywillbear：whichindeedheMUSTdo，orhehimselfwillbeovercomeinthewarwithhisfellow—capitalists。Neitherinthiscasedoeshedoanyusefulwork，andheneednotdoanysemblanceofit，sincehemaybuythebrain—powerofmanagersatasomewhathigherratethanhebuysthehand—poweroftheordinaryworkman。Butevenwhenhedoesseemtobedoingsomething，andreceivesthepompoustitleof\"organizeroflabour，\"heisnotreallyorganizingLABOUR，butthebattlewithhisimmediateenemies，theothercapitalists，whoareinthesamelineofbusinesswithhimself。
Furthermore，thoughitistrue，asIhavesaid，thattheworking—
classaretheonlyproducers，yetonlyapartofthemareallowedtoproduceusefully;forthemenofthenon—producingclasseshavingoftenmuchmorewealththantheycanUSEareforcedtoWASTEitinmereluxuriesandfollies，thatontheonehandharmthemselves，andontheotherwithdrawaverylargepartoftheworkersfromusefulwork，therebycompellingthosewhodoproduceusefullytoworktheharderandmoregrievously：inshort，theessentialaccompanimentofthesystemiswaste。
Howcoulditbeotherwise，sinceitisasystemofwar？Ihavementionedincidentallythatalltheemployersoflabourareatwarwitheachother，andyouwillprobablyseethat，accordingtomyaccountoftherelationsbetweenthetwogreatclasses，theyalsoareatwar。Eachcanonlygainattheothers’loss：theemployingclassisforcedtomakethemostofitsprivilege，thepossessionofthemeansfortheexerciseoflabour，andwhateveritgetstoitselfcanonlybegotattheexpenseoftheworking—class;andthatclassinitsturncanonlyraiseitsstandardoflivelihoodattheexpenseofthepossessingclass;itisFORCEDtoyieldaslittletributetoitasitcanhelp;thereisthereforeconstantwaralwaysgoingonbetweenthesetwoclasses，whethertheyareconsciousofitornot。
Torecapitulate：Inourmodernsocietytherearetwoclasses，ausefulandauselessclass;theuselessclassiscalledtheupper，theusefulthelowerclass。Theuselessorupperclass，havingthemonopolyofallthemeansoftheproductionofwealthsavethepoweroflabour，cananddoescompeltheusefulorlowerclasstoworkforitsowndisadvantage，andfortheadvantageoftheupperclass;norwillthelatterallowtheusefulclasstoworkonanyotherterms。
Thisarrangementnecessarilymeansanincreasingcontest，firstoftheclassesoneagainsttheother，andnextoftheindividualsofeachclassamongthemselves。
MostthinkingpeopleadmitthetruthofwhatIhavejuststated，butmanyofthembelievethatthesystem，thoughobviouslyunjustandwasteful，isnecessary（thoughperhapstheycannotgivetheirreasonsfortheirbelief），andsotheycanseenothingforitbutpalliatingtheworstevilsofthesystem：but，sincethevariouspalliativesinfashionatonetimeoranotherhavefailedeachinitsturn，Icalluponthem，firstly，toconsiderwhetherthesystemitselfmightnotbechanged，andsecondly，tolookroundandnotethesignsofapproachingchange。
Letusrememberfirstthatevensavageslive，thoughtheyhavepoortools，nomachinery，andnoco—operation，intheirwork：butassoonasamanbeginstousegoodtoolsandworkwithsomekindofco—
operationhebecomesabletoproducemorethanenoughforhisownbarenecessaries，Allindustrialsocietyisfoundedonthatfact，evenfromthetimewhenworkmenweremerechattelslaves。Whatastrangesocietythenisthisofours，whereinwhileonesetofpeoplecannotusetheirwealth，theyhavesomuch，butareobligedtowasteit，anothersetarescarcelyifatallbetterthanthosehaplesssavageswhohaveneithertoolsnorco—operation！Surelyifthiscannotbesetright，civilizedmankindmustwriteitselfdownacivilizedfool。
Hereistheworkmannow，thoroughlyorganizedforproduction，workingforproductionwithcompleteco—operation，andthroughmarvellousmachines;surelyifaslaveinAristotle’stimecoulddomorethankeephimselfalive，thepresentworkmancandomuchmore——asweallverywellknowthathecan。Whythereforeshouldhebeotherwisethaninacomfortablecondition？Simplybecauseoftheclasssystem，whichwithonehandplunders，andwiththeotherwastesthewealthwonbytheworkman’slabour。Iftheworkmanhadthefullresultsofhislabourhewouldinallcasesbecomfortablyoff，ifhewereworkinginanunwastefulway。Butinordertoworkunwastefullyhemustworkforhisownlivelihood，andnottoenableanothermantolivewithoutproducing：ifhehastosustainanothermaninidlenesswhoiscapableofworkingforhimself，heistreatedunfairly;and，believeme，hewillonlydosoaslongheiscompelledtosubmitbyignoranceandbruteforce。Well，then，hehasarighttoclaimthewealthproducedbyhislabour，andinconsequencetoinsistthatallshallproducewhoareabletodoso;butalsoundoubtedlyhislabourmustbeorganized，orhewillsoonfindhimselfrelapsingintotheconditionofthesavage。Butinorderthathislabourmaybeorganizedproperlyhemusthaveonlyoneenemytocontendwith——
Naturetowit，whoasitwereeggshimontotheconflictagainstherself，andisgratefultohimforovercomingher;afriendintheguiseofanenemy。Theremustbenocontentionofmanwithman，butASSOCIATIONinstead;soonlycanlabourbereallyorganized，harmoniouslyorganized。Butharmonycannotco—existwithcontentionforindividualgain：menmustworkforthecommongainiftheworldistoberaisedoutofitspresentmisery;thereforethatclaimoftheworkman（thatisofeveryableman）mustbesubjecttothefactthatheisbutapartofaharmoniouswhole：heisworthlesswithouttheco—operationofhisfellows，whohelphimaccordingtotheircapacities：heoughttofeel，andwillfeelwhenhehashisrightsenses，thatheisworkingforhisowninterestwhenheisworkingforthatofthecommunity。
Soworking，hisworkmustalwaysbeprofitable，thereforenoobstaclemustbethrowninthewayofhiswork：themeanswherebyhislabour—
powercanbeexercisedmustbefreetohim。Theprivilegeoftheproprietaryclassmustcometoanend。Rememberthatatpresentthecustomisthatapersonsoprivilegedisinthepositionofaman（withapolicemanorsotohelp）guardingthegateofafieldwhichwillsupplylivelihoodtowhomsoevercanworkinit：crowdsofpeoplewhodon’twanttodiecometothatgate;buttherestandslawandorder，andsays\"paymefiveshillingsbeforeyougoin;\"andheorshethathasn’tthefiveshillingshastostayoutside，anddie——
orliveintheworkhouse。Well，thatmustbedoneawaywith;thefieldmustbefreetoeverybodythatcanuseit。Tothrowasideeventhistransparentmetaphor，thosemeansofthefructificationoflabour，theland，machinery，capital，meansoftransit，&c。，whicharenowmonopolizedbythosewhocannotusethem，butwhoabusethemtoforceunpaidlabouroutofothers，mustbefreetothosewhocanusethem;thatistosay，theworkersproperlyorganizedforproduction;butyoumustrememberthatthiswillwrongnoman，becauseasallwilldosomeservicetothecommunity——i。e。，astherewillbenonon—producingclass，theorganizedworkerswillbethewholecommunity，therewillbenooneleftout。
Societywillthusberecast，andlabourwillbefreefromallcompulsionexceptthecompulsionofNature，whichgivesusnothingfornothing。Itwouldbefutiletoattempttogiveyoudetailsofthewayinwhichthiswouldbecarriedout;sincetheveryessenceofitisfreedomandtheabolitionofallarbitraryorartificialauthority;butIwillaskyoutounderstandonething：youwillnodoubtwanttoknowwhatistobecomeofprivatepropertyundersuchasystem，whichatfirstsightwouldnotseemtoforbidtheaccumulationofwealth，andalongwiththataccumulationtheformationofnewclassesofrichandpoor。
Nowprivatepropertyasatpresentunderstoodimpliestheholdingofwealthbyanindividualasagainstallothers，whethertheholdercanuseitornot：hemay，andnotseldomhedoes，accumulatecapital，orthestored—uplabourofpastgenerations，andneitheruseithimselfnorallowotherstouseit：hemay，andoftenhedoes，engrossthefirstnecessityoflabour，land，andneitheruseithimselforallowanyoneelsetouseit;andthoughitisclearthatineachcaseheisinjuringthecommunity，thelawissternlyonhisside。Inanycasearichmanaccumulatesproperty，notforhisownuse，butinorderthathemayevadewithimpunitythelawofNaturewhichbidsmanlabourforhislivelihood，andalsothathemayenablehischildrentodothesame，thatheandtheymaybelongtotheupperoruselessclass：itisnotwealththatheaccumulates，well—being，well—doing，bodilyandmental;hesooncomestotheendofhisrealneedsinthatrespect，evenwhentheyaremostexacting：itispoweroverothers，whatourforefatherscalledRICHES，thathecollects;
power（aswehaveseen）toforceotherpeopletoliveforhisadvantagepoorerlivesthantheyshouldlive。UnderstandthatthatMUSTbetheresultofthepossessionofRICHES。
NowthispowertocompelotherstolivepoorlySocialismwouldabolishentirely，andinthatsensewouldmakeanendofprivateproperty：norwoulditneedtomakelawstopreventaccumulationartificiallywhenoncepeoplehadfoundoutthattheycouldemploythemselves，andthattherebyeverymancouldenjoytheresultsofhisownlabour：forSocialismbasestherightsoftheindividualtopossesswealthonhisbeingabletousethatwealthforhisownpersonalneeds，and，labourbeingproperlyorganized，everyperson，maleorfemale，notinnonageorotherwiseincapacitatedfromworking，wouldhavefullopportunitytoproducewealthandtherebytosatisfyhisownpersonalneeds;ifthoseneedswentinanydirectionbeyondthoseofanaverageman，hewouldhavetomakepersonalsacrificesinordertosatisfythem;hewouldhave，forinstance，toworklongerhours，ortoforegosomeluxurythathedidnotcareforinordertoobtainsomethingwhichheverymuchdesired：sodoinghewouldattheworstinjurenoone：andyouwillclearlyseethatthereisnootherchoiceforhimbetweensodoingandhisforcingsomeoneelsetoforegoHISspecialdesires;andthislatterproceedingbytheway，whenitisdonewithoutthesanctionofthemostpowerfulpartofsociety，iscalledTHEFT;thoughonthebigscaleanddulysanctionedbyartificiallaws，itis，aswehaveseen，thegroundworkofourpresentsystem。Oncemore，thatsystemrefusespermissiontopeopletoproduceunlessunderartificialrestrictions;
underSocialism，everyonewhocouldproducewouldbefreetoproduce，sothatthepriceofanarticlewouldbejustthecostofitsproduction，andwhatwenowcallprofitwouldnolongerexist：
thus，forinstance，ifapersonwantedchairs，hewouldaccumulatethemtillhehadasmanyashecoulduse，andthenhewouldstop，sincehewouldnothavebeenabletobuythemforlessthantheircostofproductionandcouldnotsellthemformore：inotherwords，theywouldbenothingelsethanchairs;underthepresentsystemtheymaybemeansofcompulsionanddestructionasformidableasloadedrifles。
Noonethereforewoulddisputewithamanthepossessionofwhathehadacquiredwithoutinjurytoothers，andwhathecouldusewithoutinjuringthem，anditwouldsoremovetemptationstowardtheabuseofpossession，thatprobablynolawswouldbenecessarytopreventit。
Afewwordsnowastothedifferentiationofrewardoflabour，asI
knowmyreadersaresuretowantanexpositionoftheSocialistviewshereastothosewhodirectlabourorwhohavespeciallyexcellentfacultiestowardsproduction。And，first，Iwilllookonthesuper—
excellentworkmanasanarticlepresumablyneededbythecommunity;
andthensaythat，aswithotherarticlessowiththis，thecommunitymustpaythecostofhisproduction：forinstance，itwillhavetoseekhimout，todevelophisspecialcapacities，andsatisfyanyneedshemayhave（ifany）beyondthoseofanaverageman，solongasthesatisfactionofthoseneedsisnothurtfultothecommunity。
Furthermore，youcannotgivehimmorethanhecanusesohewillnotaskformore，andwillnottakeit：itistruethathisworkmaybemorespecialthananother’s，butitisnotmorenecessaryifyouhaveorganizedlabourproperly;theploughmanandthefishermanareasnecessarytosocietyasthescientistortheartist，Iwillnotsaymorenecessary：neitheristhedifficultyofproducingthemorespecialandexcellentworkatallproportionatetoitsspecialityorexcellence：thehigherworkmanproduceshisworkaseasilyperhapsasthelowerdoeshiswork;ifhedoesnotdoso，youmustgivehimextraleisure，extrameansforsupplyingthewasteofpowerinhim，butyoucangivehimnothingmore。TheonlyrewardthatyouCANgivetheexcellentworkmanisopportunityfordevelopingandexercisinghisexcellentcapacity。Irepeat，youCANgivehimnothingmoreworthhishaving：allotherrewardsareeitherillusoryorharmful。
Imustsayinpassing，thatourpresentsystemofdealingwithwhatiscalledamanofgeniusisutterlyabsurd：wecruellystarvehimandrepresshiscapacitywhenheisyoung;wefoolishlypamperandflatterhimandagainrepresshiscapacitywhenheismiddle—agedorold：wegettheleastoutofhim，notthemost。
Theselastwordsconcernmereraritiesinthewayofworkmen;butinthisrespectitisonlyamatterofdegree;thepointofthewholethingisthis，thatthedirectoroflabourisinhisplacebecauseheisfitforit，notbyamereaccident;beingfitforit，hedoesiteasierthanhewoulddootherwork，andneedsnomorecompensationforthewearandtearoflifethananothermandoes，andnotneedingitwillnotclaimit，sinceitwouldbenousetohim;hisspecialrewardforhisspeciallabouris，Irepeat，thathecandoiteasily，andsodoesnotfeelitaburden;nay，sincehecandoitWELLhelikesdoingit，sinceindeedthemainpleasureoflifeistheexerciseofenergyinthedevelopmentofourspecialcapacities。
Again，asregardstheworkmenwhoareunderhisdirection，heneedsnospecialdignityorauthority;theyknowwellenoughthatsolongashefulfilshisfunctionandreallydoesdirectthem，iftheydonotheedhimitwillbeatthecostoftheirlabourbeingmoreirksomeandharder。Allthis，inshort，iswhatismeantbytheorganizationoflabour，whichis，inotherwords，findingoutwhatworksuchandsuchpeoplearefittestforandleavingthemfreetodothat：wewon’ttakethetroubletodothatnow，withtheresultthatpeople’sbestfacultiesarewasted，andthatworkisaheavyburdentothem，whichtheynaturallyshirkasmuchastheycan;itshouldberatherapleasuretothem：andIsaystraightoutthat，unlesswefindsomemeanstomakeallworkmoreorlesspleasurable，weshallneverescapefromthegreattyrannyofthemodernworld。
Havingmentionedthedifferencebetweenthecompetitiveandcommercialideasonthesubjectoftheindividualholdingofwealthandtherelativepositionofdifferentgroupsofworkmen，IwillverybrieflysaysomethingonwhatforwantofabetterwordImustcallthepoliticalpositionwhichwetakeup，oratleastwhatwelookforwardtointhelongrun。ThesubstitutionofassociationforcompetitionisthefoundationofSocialism，andwillrunthroughallactsdoneunderit，andthismustactasbetweennationsaswellasbetweenindividuals：whenprofitscannomorebemade，therewillbenonecessityforholdingtogethermassesofmentodrawtogetherthegreatestproportionofprofittotheirlocality，ortotherealorimaginaryunionofpersonsandcorporationswhichisnowcalledanation。Whatwenowcallanationisabodywhosefunctionitistoassertthespecialwelfareofitsincorporatedmembersattheexpenseofallothersimilarbodies：thedeathofcompetitionwilldepriveitofthisfunction;sincetherewillbenoattackthereneedbenodefence，anditseemstomethatthisfunctionbeingtakenawayfromthenationitcanhavenoother，andthereforemustceasetoexistasapoliticalentity。Onthissideofthemovementopinionisgrowingsteadily。Itisclearthat，quiteapartfromSocialism，theideaoflocaladministrationispushingoutthatofcentralizedgovernment：
totakearemarkablecase：intheFrenchRevolutionof1793，themostadvancedpartywascentralizing：inthelatestFrenchrevolution，thatoftheCommuneof1871，itwasfederalist。OrtakeIreland，thesuccesswhichisto—dayattendingthestrugglesofIrelandforindependenceis，Iamquitesure，owingtothespreadofthisidea：itnolongerseemsamonstrouspropositiontoliberal—
mindedEnglishmenthatacountryshouldadministeritsownaffairs：
thefeelingthatitisnotonlyjust，butalsoveryconvenienttoallpartiesforittodoso，isextinguishingtheprejudicesfosteredbycenturiesofoppressiveandwastefulmastership。AndIbelievethatIrelandwillshowthatherclaimforself—governmentisnotmadeonbehalfofnationalrivalry，butratheronbehalfofgenuineindependence;theconsideration，ontheonehand，oftheneedsofherownpopulation，and，ontheother，goodwilltowardsthatofotherlocalities。Well，thespreadofthisideawillmakeourpoliticalworkasSocialiststheeasier;menwillatlastcometoseethattheonlywaytoavoidthetyrannyandwasteofbureaucracyisbytheFederationofIndependentCommunities：theirfederationbeingfordefinitepurposes：forfurtheringtheorganizationoflabour，byascertainingtherealdemandforcommodities，andsoavoidingwaste：
fororganizingthedistributionofgoods，themigrationofpersons——
inshort，thefriendlyintercommunicationofpeoplewhoseinterestsarecommon，althoughthecircumstancesoftheirnaturalsurroundingsmadenecessarydifferencesoflifeandmannersbetweenthem。
IhavethussketchedsomethingoftheoutlineofSocialism，byshowingthatitsaimisfirsttogetridofthemonopolyofthemeansoffructifyinglabour，sothatlabourmaybefreetoall，anditsresultingwealthmaynotbeengrossedbyafew，andsocausethemiseryanddegradationofthemany：and，secondly，thatitaimsatorganizinglaboursothatnoneofitmaybewasted，usingasameanstheretothefreedevelopmentofeachman’scapacity;and，thirdly，thatitaimsatgettingridofnationalrivalry，whichinpointoffactmeansaconditionofperpetualwar，sometimesofthemoney—bag，sometimesofthebullet，andsubstitutingforthisworn—outsuperstitionasystemoffreecommunitieslivinginharmoniousfederationwitheachother，managingtheirownaffairsbythefreeconsentoftheirmembers;yetacknowledgingsomekindofcentrewhosefunctionitwouldbetoprotecttheprinciplewhosepracticethecommunitiesshouldcarryout;tillatlastthoseprincipleswouldberecognizedbyeveryonealwaysandintuitively，whenthelastvestigesofcentralizationwoulddieout。
IamwellawarethatthiscompleteSocialism，whichissometimescalledCommunism，cannotberealizedallatonce;societywillbechangedfromitsbasiswhenwemaketheformofrobberycalledprofitimpossiblebygivinglabourfullandfreeaccesstothemeansofitsfructification——i。e。，torawmaterial。ThedemandforthisemancipationoflabouristhebasisonwhichallSocialistsmayunite。Onmoreindefinitegroundstheycannotmeetothergroupsofpoliticians;theycanonlyrejoiceatseeingthegroundclearedofcontroversieswhicharereallydead，inorderthatthelastcontroversymaybesettledthatwecanatpresentforesee，andthequestionsolvedastowhetherornoitisnecessary，assomepeoplethinkitis，thatsocietyshouldbecomposedoftwogroupsofdishonestpersons，slavessubmittingtobeslaves，yetforevertryingtocheattheirmasters，andmastersconsciousoftheirhavingnosupportfortheirdishonestyofeatingthecommonstockwithoutaddingtoitsavethemereorganizationofbruteforce，whichtheyhavetoassertforeverinalldetailsoflifeagainstthenaturaldesireofmantobefree。
Itmaybehopedthatweofthisgenerationmaybeabletoprovethatitisunnecessary;butitwill，doubtitnot，takemanygenerationsyettoprovethatitisnecessaryforsuchdegradationtolastaslongashumanitydoes;andwhenthatisfinallyprovedweshallatleasthaveonehopeleft——thathumanitywillnotlastlong。
Footnotes：
{1}Falsely;becausetheprivilegedclasseshaveattheirbacktheforceoftheExecutivebymeansofwhichtocompeltheunprivilegedtoaccepttheirterms;ifthisis\"freecompetition\"thereisnomeaninginwords。
{2}ReadattheConferenceconvenedbytheFabianSocietyatSouthPlaceInstitute，June11，1886。
{3}TheyHAVEbeen\"ratherrough，\"youmaysay，andhavedonemorethanmerelyholdtheirsentimentalposition。Well，Istillsay（February1888）thatthepresentopentyrannywhichsendspoliticalopponentstoprison，bothinEnglandandIreland，andbreaksRadicalheadsinthestreetforattemptingtoattendpoliticalmeetings，isnotTory，butWhig;nottheoldTory\"divinerightofkings，\"butthenewTory，i。e。，Tory—tintedWhig，\"divinerightofproperty\"madeBloodySundaypossible。IadmitthatIdidnotexpectin1886thatweshouldin1887and1888behavingsuchabrilliantexampleofthetyrannyofaparliamentarymajority;infact，IdidnotreckonontheforceoftheimpenetrablestupidityofthePrigsinalliancewiththeWhigsmarchingundertheratherraggedbannerofshamToryism。
{4}Astruenow（February1888）asthen：themurderoftheChicagoAnarchists，towit。
{5}IsupposehewasspeakingoftheframehousesofKent。
{6}AndthebrickandmortarcountryLondon，also，itseems（Feb。
1888）。
{7}1886，towit。
