Chapter III: The Action of Positivism Upon the Working Classes 140

Positivism will not for the present recommend itself to the
governing classes, so much as to the People--The working man who
accepts his position is favourably situated for the reception
of comprehensive principles and generous sympathies--This the
Convention felt; but they encouraged the People to seek political
supremacy, for which they are not fit--It is only in exceptional
cases that the People can be really ‘sovereign’--The truth
involved in the expression is that the well-being of the people
should be the one great object of government--The People’s
function is to assist the spiritual power in modifying the action
of government--Their combined efforts result in the formation
of Public Opinion--Public opinion involves, (1) principles of
social conduct, (2) their acceptance by society at large, (3) an
organ through which to enunciate them--Working men’s clubs--All
three conditions of Public Opinion exist, but have not yet
been combined--Spontaneous tendencies of the people in a right
direction. Their Communism--Its new title of Socialism--Property
is in its nature social, and needs control--But Positivism
rejects the Communist solution of the Problem. Property is to
be controlled by moral not legal agencies--Individualization
of functions as necessary as co-operation--Industry requires
its captains as well as War--Communism is deficient in the
historical spirit--In fact, as a system it is worthless, though
prompted by noble feelings--Property is a public trust, not to
be interfered with legally--Inheritance favourable to its right
employment--Intellect needs moral control as much as wealth--Action
of organized public opinion upon Capitalists. Strikes--Public
Opinion must be based upon a sound system of Education--Education
has two stages; from birth to puberty, from puberty to adolescence.
The first, consisting of physical and esthetic training, to
be given at home--The second part consists of public lectures
on the Sciences, from Mathematics to Sociology--Travels of
Apprentices--Concentration of study--Governmental assistance
not required, except for certain special institutions, and
this only as a provisional measure--We are not ripe for this
system at present; and Government must not attempt to hasten its
introduction--Intellectual attitude of the people. Emancipation
from theological belief--From metaphysical doctrines--Their
mistaken preference of literary and rhetorical talent to real
intellectual power--Moral attitude of the people. The workman
should regard himself as a public functionary--Ambition of power
and wealth must be abandoned--The working classes are the best
guarantee for Liberty and Order--It is from them that we shall
obtain the dictatorial power which is provisionally required.