Chapter I: Preface

It is becoming more and more evident that democracy has served only the first years of its apprenticeship. Political problems have served only to introduce popular government. The economic problems now rushing upon us will bring the real test of democracy.

The workingman has taken an advanced place in the struggle for the democratization of industry. He has done so, first, through the organization of labor unions; secondly, through the development of political parties--labor parties. The blend of politics and economics which he affects is loosely called Socialism. The term is as indefinite in meaning as it is potent in influence. It has spread its unctuous doctrines over every industrial land, and its representatives sit in every important parliament, including our Congress.

Such a movement requires careful consideration from every point of view.

It is the object of this volume to trace briefly the growth of the movement in four leading European countries, and to attempt to determine the relation of economic and political Socialism to democracy--a question of peculiar interest to the friends of the American Republic at this time.

In preparing this volume, the author has made extended visits to the countries studied. He has tried to catch the spirit of the movement by personal contact with the Socialist leaders and their antagonists, and by many interviews with laboring men, the rank and file in every country visited.

Everywhere he was received with the greatest cordiality, and he wishes here to express his appreciation of these many kindnesses.

He wishes especially to acknowledge his obligations to the following gentlemen: Mr. Graham Wallas of the University of London; Mr. W.G. Towler of the London Municipal Society; Mr. John Hobson of London, and Mr. J.S. Middleton, assistant secretary of the Labor Party; to Dr. Robert Herz and Prof. Charles Gide of the University of Paris; Dr. Albert Thomas and M. Adolphe Landry of the Chamber of Deputies; M. Jean Longuet, editor of _L'Humanite_; to Dr. Franz Oppenheimer of the University of Berlin; Dr. Suedekum of the Reichstag; Dr. Hilferding, editor of _Vorwaerts_; Prof. T.H. Norton, American Consul at Chemnitz; M. Camille Huysmans, secretary of the "International," Brussels; as well as to many American friends for providing letters of introduction which opened many useful and congenial doorways.

S.P.O.
January, 1913.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. WHY DOES SOCIALISM EXIST? 1

II. THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIALISM 17

III. The Political Awakening of Socialism--The Period
of Revolution 42

IV. THE POLITICAL AWAKENING OF SOCIALISM--THE
INTERNATIONAL 56

V. THE SOCIALIST PARTY OF FRANCE 75

VI. THE BELGIAN LABOR PARTY 118

VII. THE GERMAN SOCIAL DEMOCRACY 146

VIII. GERMAN SOCIAL DEMOCRACY AND LABOR UNIONS 171

IX. THE ENGLISH LABOR PARTY 207

X. CONCLUSION 250

APPENDIX 273

INDEX 347

SOCIALISM AND DEMOCRACY IN EUROPE