Public-domain ebook
by John Spargo
Language: en2,549 downloads on Project Gutenberg
Subjects
In: History - Modern (1750+)·Sociology·Politics
Public-domain ebook sourced from Project Gutenberg #22733.
The work is a revised survey of socialist doctrine authored by John Spargo and issued in 1908. In his preface the writer explains that the new edition corrects typographical slips, most notably the misdating of the first use of “Socialism” from 1835 to 1833, and amends biographical errors about Marx that had been reproduced from earlier authorities. He then outlines extensive rewrites: a re‑cast chapter on Robert Owen with greater emphasis on Owen’s American activities, an expanded discussion of the materialistic conception of history and its implications for religion, and a brief postscript on “Means of Realization.” The table of contents shows a systematic treatment, moving from an introductory appraisal of public opinion through histories of Owen, the Communist Manifesto, and Marx, to detailed expositions of materialist historiography, capitalist concentration, class struggle, and finally the envisaged socialist state and its practical implementation.
The text reads like an early‑20th‑century polemic, blending scholarly citation with a persuasive, almost journalistic tone. Spargo’s style is dense yet accessible, employing long sentences and frequent asides that reflect the period’s didactic approach to political education. Readers interested in the historical development of socialist thought, the intellectual context of the pre‑World War I era, or the evolution of Marxist interpretation will find it rewarding. It especially appeals to students of political history, scholars tracing the reception of Marx and Engels in America, and general readers who enjoy a thorough, contemporaneous overview of socialist principles rather than a purely theoretical treatise.
The opening · free to read
A new edition of this little volume having been rendered necessary, I have availed myself of the opportunity thus afforded me by the publishers to revise it. Some slight revision was necessary to correct one or two errors which crept unavoidably into the earlier edition. By an oversight, an important typographical blunder went uncorrected into the former edition, making the date of the first use of the word "Socialism" 1835 instead of 1833. That error, I regret to say, has been subsequently copied into many important publications. Even more important were some errors in the biographical sketch of Marx, in Chapter III. These were not due to any carelessness upon the part of the present writer, but were reproduced from standard works, upon what seemed to be good authority--that of his youngest daughter and his intimate friend, the late Wilhelm Liebknecht. It is now known with certainty that the father of Karl Marx embraced Christianity of his own free choice, and not in obedience to an official edict.
These and some other minor changes having to be made, I took the time to rewrite large parts of the volume, making such substantial changes in it as to constitute practically a new book. The chapter on Robert Owen has been recast and greater emphasis placed upon his American career and its influence; in Chapter IV the sketch of the Materialistic Conception of History has been enlarged somewhat, special attention being given to the bearing of the theory upon religion. All the rest of the book has been changed, partly to meet the requirements of many students and others who have written to me in reference to various points of difficulty, and partly also to state some of my own ideas more successfully. I venture to hope that the brief chapter on "Means of Realization," which has been added to the book by way of postscript, will, in spite of its brevity, and the fact that it was not written for inclusion in this volume, prove helpful to some who read the book.
The thanks of the writer are due to all those friends--Socialists and others--whose kindly efforts made the earlier edition of the book a success.
YONKERS, N.Y., December, 1908.
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