Author’s Preface

Within the last few years socialism has spread to an alarming extent. At the last general elections in Germany, June 16, 1903, it polled considerably above three million votes. The jubilant exultation of socialists at this unparalleled success may easily be imagined. “Berlin the capital of socialism! Germany the realm of social democracy!” Thus the Vorwärts triumphantly exclaimed.

In view of this gigantic development of social democracy it certainly behooves every man of culture, but above all the leaders in civil and social life, to become familiar with socialist ideas, to make themselves acquainted with the scientific basis so much vaunted by socialists, and to form an independent judgment concerning them.

To oppose the spread of socialism by means of police regulations, as was done by the famous Socialist Law of Germany, must always prove utterly abortive; in this struggle intellectual and moral weapons rather will be used to advantage.

Modern socialism can and must be combated both theoretically and practically. Practical endeavors are of the first importance, and they above all will help to check the further spread of social democracy, and will erect a powerful dam to stem the tide of revolution. Social reform along reasonable lines will remove the grievances which now furnish ample material for the declamations of socialist agitators. For no one can deny that in our modern society many abuses call for correction; also we advocate social reform wherever needed.

However, reform is not the real aim of socialists; their purpose is the radical subversion of all existing social conditions and the reconstruction of society on an entirely new basis. That this their attempt is impracticable and fraught with disaster is to be seen in these pages. This theoretical exposition of socialism has become more important nowadays than ever before, nay, it is absolutely necessary.

From these remarks it is clear that our object is purely critical and negative; we do not make any proposals of practical reforms, not because we are opposed to them or deem them superfluous, but because they are beyond the scope of this work. Our views on this matter may be gathered from our “Moralphilosophie,” vol. II. pp. 596 sqq.

In our refutation of socialists it has been our constant endeavor to enter into their ideas to the best of our power, to study their principles in their own writings, to inquire into the foundations upon which their system is based, to examine their principal demands and the relations they bear to each other. The task was by no means an easy one. Socialists themselves do not agree in the details of their demands, and within their system many different modifications are possible, all of which call for separate examination. Notwithstanding these difficulties our exposition of socialistic tenets has been acknowledged by prominent socialist leaders as substantially correct. Thus Kautsky in his Neue Zeit (1891, II. p. 637) remarks of our work: “Marx’s theory has been rendered much better by Cathrein than by any of the liberalist ‘socialist-killers.’ The author has at least read the works which he discusses.”

In this eighth [German] edition special attention has been bestowed on a more thorough exposition and refutation of the “materialistic conception of history” and its application to socialist ideals. Also the controversy between Bebel’s orthodox party and the revisionists with Bernstein and von Vollmar at their head has received fuller treatment. The most recent literary productions for and against socialism have been pressed into service as far as possible. Besides, our account of the present state of socialism in different countries has been corrected according to the latest data available.

VICTOR CATHREIN, S.J.

VALKENBERG, HOLLAND, June, 1903.