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beforehand for these occasional revolts。 Here and there the contest breaks
out into riots。 Now and then the workers are victorious； but only for a time。
The real fruit of their battles lies； not in the immediate result； but in the
ever…expanding union of the workers。 This union is helped on by the im…
proved means of communication that are created by modern industry； and
that place the workers of different localities in contact with one another。 It
was just this contact that was needed to centralize the numerous local
struggles； all of the same character； into one national struggle between
classes。 But every class struggle is a political struggle。 And that union； to
attain which the burghers of the Middle Ages； with their miserable
highways； required centuries； the modern proletarians； thanks to railways；
achieve in a few years。 This organization of the proletarians into a class；
and consequently into a political party； is continually being upset again by
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the competition between the workers themselves。 But it ever rises up again；
stronger； firmer； mightier。 It compels legislative recognition of particular
interests of the workers； by taking advantage of the divisions among the
bourgeoisie itself。''
‘‘In the conditions of the proletariat； those of old society at large are
already virtually swamped。 The proletarian is without property； his
relation to his wife and children has no longer anything in common with
the bourgeois family…relations； modern industrial labor； modern subjection
to capital； the same in England as in France； in America as in Germany；
has stripped him of every trace of national character。 Law； morality；
religion； are to him so many bourgeois prejudices； behind which lurk in
ambush just as many bourgeois interests。 All the preceding classes that got
the upper hand； sought to fortify their already acquired status by
subjecting society at large to their conditions of appropriation。 The
proletarians cannot become masters of the productive forces of society；
except by abolishing their own previous mode of appropriation； and
thereby also every other previous mode of appropriation。 They have
nothing of their own to secure and to fortify； their mission is to destroy all
previous securities for； and insurances of； individual property。 All previous
historical movements were movements of minorities； or in the interest of
minorities。 The proletarian movement is the self…conscious； independent
movement of the immense majority； in the interest of the immense
majority。 The proletariat； the lowest stratum of our present society； cannot
stir； cannot raise itself up； without the whole super… incumbent strata of
official society being sprung into the air。''
The Communists； says Marx； stand for the proletariat as a whole。 They
are international。 ‘‘The Communists are further reproached with desiring
to abolish countries and nationality。 The working men have no country。 We
cannot take from them what they have not got。''
The immediate aim of the Communists is the conquests of political
power by the proletariat。 ‘‘The theory of the Communists may be summed
up in the single sentence： Abolition of private property。''
The materialistic interpretation of history is used to answer such
charges as that Communism is anti…Christian。 ‘‘The charges against
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PROPOSED ROADS TO FREEDOM
Communism made from a religious； a philosophical； and； generally； from
an ideological standpoint； are not deserving of serious examination。 Does
it require deep intuition to comprehend that man's ideas； views and
conceptions； in one word； man's consciousness； changes with every
change in the conditions of his material existence； in his social relations；
and in his social life？''
The attitude of the Manifesto to the State is not altogether easy to
grasp。 ‘‘The executive of the modern State；'' we are told； ‘‘is but a
Committee for managing the common affairs of the whole bourgeoisie。''
Nevertheless； the first step for the proletariat must be to acquire control of
the State。 ‘‘We have seen above； that the first step in the revolution by the
working class； is to raise the proletariat to the position of ruling class； to
win the battle of democracy。 The proletariat will use its political
supremacy to wrest； by degrees； all capital from the bourgeoisie； to
centralize all instruments of production in the hands of the State； i。e。； of
the proletariat organized as the ruling class； and to increase the total of
productive forces as rapidly as possible。''
The Manifesto passes on to an immediate program of reforms； which
would in the first instance much increase the power of the existing State；
but it is contended that when the Socialist revolution is accomplished； the
State； as we know it； will have ceased to exist。 As Engels says elsewhere；
when the proletariat seizes the power of the State ‘‘it puts an end to all
differences of class and antagonisms of class； and consequently also puts
an end to the State as a State。'' Thus； although State Socialism might； in
fact； be the outcome of the proposals of Marx and Engels； they cannot
themselves be accused of any glorification of the State。
The Manifesto ends with an appeal to the wage… earners of the world
to rise on behalf of Communism。 ‘‘The Communists disdain to conceal
their views and aims。 They openly declare that their ends can be attained
only by the forcible overthrow of all existing social conditions。 Let the
ruling classes tremble at a Communistic revolution。 The proletarians have
nothing to lose but their chains。 They have a world to win。 Working men
of all countries； unite！''
In all the great countries of the Continent； except Russia； a revolution
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followed quickly on the publication of the Communist Manifesto； but the
revolution was not economic or international； except at first in France。
Everywhere