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they have learned to combine internationally they must be victorious。
They will then decree that all land and capital shall be owned in common；
exploitation will cease； the tyranny of the owners of wealth will no longer
be possible； there will no longer be any division of society into classes；
and all men will be free。
All these ideas are already contained in the ‘‘Communist Manifesto；'' a
work of the most amazing vigor and force； setting forth with terse
compression the titanic forces of the world； their epic battle； and the
inevitable consummation。 This work is of such importance in the
development of Socialism and gives such an admirable statement of the
doctrines set forth at greater length and with more pedantry in ‘‘Capital；''
that its salient passages must be known by anyone who wishes to
understand the hold which Marxian Socialism has acquired over the
intellect and imagination of a large proportion of working…class leaders。
‘‘A spectre is haunting Europe；'' it begins； ‘‘the spectre of Communism。
All the Powers of old Europe have entered into a holy alliance to exorcise
this spectrePope and Czar； Metternich and Guizot； French Radicals and
German police…spies。 Where is the party in opposition that has not been
decried as communistic by its opponents in power？ Where the Opposition
that has not hurled back the branding reproach of Communism against the
more advanced opposition parties； as well as against its re…actionary
adversaries？''
The existence of a class war is nothing new： ‘‘The history of all
hitherto existing society is the history of class struggles。'' In these
struggles the fight ‘‘each time ended； either in a revolutionary re…
constitution of society at large； or in the common ruin of the contending
classes。''
‘‘Our epoch； the epoch of the bourgeoisie 。 。 。 has simplified the class
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PROPOSED ROADS TO FREEDOM
antagonisms。 Society as a whole is more and more splitting up into two
great hostile camps； into two great classes directly facing each other：
Bourgeoisie and Proletariat。'' Then follows a history of the fall of
feudalism； leading to a description of the bourgeoisie as a revolutionary
force。 ‘‘The bourgeoisie； historically； has played a most revolutionary
part。'' ‘‘For exploitation； veiled by religious and political illusions； it has
substituted naked； shameless； direct； brutal exploitation。'' ‘‘The need of a
constantly expanding market for its products chases the bourgeoisie over
the whole surface of the globe。'' ‘‘The bourgeoisie； during its rule of scarce
one hundred years； has created more massive and more colossal
productive forces than have all preceding generations together。'' Feudal
relations became fetters： ‘‘They had to be burst asunder； they were burst
asunder。 。 。 。 A similar movement is going on before our own eyes。'' ‘‘The
weapons with which the bourgeoisie felled feudalism to the ground are
now turned against the bourgeoisie itself。 But not only has the bourgoisie
forged the weapons that bring death to itself； it has also called into
existence the men who are to wield those weapons the modern working
classthe proletarians。''
The cause of the destitution of the proletariat are then set forth。 ‘‘The
cost of production of a workman is restricted； almost entirely； to the means
of subsistence that he requires for his maintenance and for the propagation
of his race。 But the price of a commodity； and therefore also of labor； is
equal to its cost of production。 In proportion； therefore； as the
repulsiveness of the work increases； the wage decreases。 Nay more； in
proportion as the use of machinery and diversion of labor increases； in the
same proportion the burden of toil also increases。''
‘‘Modern industry has converted the little workshop of the patriarchal
master into the great factory of the industrial capitalist。 Masses of laborers；
crowded into the factory； are organized like soldiers。 As privates of the
industrial army they are placed under the command of a perfect hierarchy
of officers and sergeants。 Not only are they slaves of the bourgeois class；
and of the bourgeois State； they are daily and hourly enslaved by the
machine； by the over…looker； and； above all； by the individual bourgeois
manufacturer himself。 The more openly this despotism proclaims gain to
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PROPOSED ROADS TO FREEDOM
be its end and aim； the more petty； the more hateful； and the more
embittering it is。''
The Manifesto tells next the manner of growth of the class struggle。
‘‘The proletariat goes through various stages of development。 With its
birth begins its struggle with the bourgeoisie。 At first the contest is carried
on by individual laborers； then by the workpeople of a factory； then by the
operatives of one trade； in one locality； against the individual bourgeois
who directly exploits them。 They direct their attacks not against the
bourgeois conditions of production； but against the instruments of
production themselves。''
‘‘At this stage the laborers still form an incoherent mass scattered over
the whole country； and broken up by their mutual competition。 If
anywhere they unite to form more compact bodies； this is not yet the
consequence of their own active union； but of the union of the bourgeoisie；
which class； in order to attain its own political ends； is compelled to set the
whole proletariat in motion； and is moreover yet； for a time； able to do so。''
‘‘The collisions between individual workmen and individual bourgeois
take more and more the character of collisions between two classes。
Thereupon the workers begin to form combinations （Trades Unions）
against the bourgeois； they club together in order to keep up the rate of
wages； they found permanent associations in order to make provision
beforehand for these occasional revolts。 Here and there the contest breaks
out into riots。 Now and then the workers are victori