§ III. The Modern Military System

Socialists endeavor to derive an argument for the possibility of their system from the organization and direction of our huge modern armies. However, it is manifest that a strict military organization with a criminal code including, as in Germany, for instance, some thirty capital crimes, could not be extended to an entire people and brought to bear upon all phases of human life. At least socialists must lay aside their high-sounding phrases about freedom and equality if they would impose upon us such military discipline. Moreover there is no communism in the army; it does not support itself, but is supported by others. However, we have no reason to fear that such a scheme will so easily be realized. For what would become of an army if the soldiers themselves had the chief command—if they chose their own officers and generals, and deposed them at pleasure, and held courtmartial over them? Our modern armies are under the strictest discipline and subordination. An army on democratic principles is chimerical. Besides, we must bear in mind that socialism undertakes to organize not only military activity, but the entire social life—production, commerce, education, instruction, the press, the arts, and sciences, etc. If, then, even an organization on socialistic principles is impracticable for military purposes, how much more so for the varied and more complex relations of social life!