Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1921 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER IX SYNDICALISM Quarrels amongst Socialists -- The old Guilds -- Revolutionary Syndicalism -- Outcome of Anarchy --The General Strike -- Georges Sorel -- Syndicalism versus Socialism -- Guild Socialism -- " New Australia." Whilst Socialism in England was thus pursuing a laborious course and still remained almost exclusively confined to drawing-rooms, the same doctrines met with continued and active hostility from the French peasants. Mr. Hyndman in his Reminiscences describes M. Clemenceau as expressing his opinion that Socialism could never make way in France in his day. Looking only at the towns you may think otherwise, though even there I consider the progress of Socialism is overrated. But the towns do not govern France. The overwhelming majority of French voters are country voters. France means rural France, and the peasantry of France will never be Socialists. . . . Always property, ownership, possession, work, thrift, acquisition, individual gain. Socialism can never take root in such a soil as this. North or South it is just the same. Preach nationalization of the land in a French village, and you would barely escape with your life, if the peasants understood what you meant.1 .... .. It is strange how frankly Socialists at times admit that, for all their talk of democracy, their plans for the people's welfare are diametrically opposed to those of the people themselves. Mr. Hyndman goes on to relate that M. Paul Brousse, when consulted on Clemenceau's " pessimist opinion" of the French peasants, agreed that " to preach nationalization in the villages would be suicidal," 1 Reminiscences, p. 321. but seemed to think the peasants might be tricked into Socialism all the same. The word Socialism need never be used at all; but...
