In the Socialist gatherings which are taking place this month
in most parts of Western Europe two interesting facts appear beyond dispute. The sect everywhere believes that it can "capture" the Parliaments, and that this is its quickest road to power. In France and Germany in particular, re- liance on the vote, as against a universal strike or dramatic coup of any kind, is formally accepted as a principle. In all countries, too, it is recognised that the grand obstacle to success is peasant-proprietorship. The Socialist leaders in France will, it is stated, issue a pamphlet explaining to the peasants that collectivism will not ruin them, while the German leaders propose, or are said to propose, to go much further. They are ready to rewrite their programme, so as to strike out of it the nationalisation of land. The peasants, they say, will not give up their little properties. This is a long stride towards sanity, and consequently towards the partial success which Socialists will possibly one day achieve. They may, and in places will, replace the capitalist by the '.te in many undertakings having a national character,
bly in the control of communications, in mining, and con-
LONDON:
Product t,
ceivably in the lodging of the people ; but if they attack property, they attack an instinct of human nature—and animal nature—and will be beaten.
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