In this sense, the theory of the Communists may be summed up in the single sentence: Abolition of private property.
You are horrified at our intending to do away with private property. But in your existing society, private property is already done away with for nine-tenths of the population; its existence for the few is solely due to its non-existence in the hands of those nine-tenths.
It has been objected that upon the abolition of private property all work will cease, and universal laziness will overtake us.
Socialism, Communism, or whatever one chooses to call it, by converting private property into public wealth, and substituting co-operation for competition, will restore society to its proper condition of a thoroughly healthy organism, and insure the material well-being of each member of the community.
Of course, it might be said that the Individualism generated under conditions of private property is not always, or even as a rule, of a fine or wonderful type, and that the poor, if they have not culture and charm, have still many virtues.
But it may be asked how Individualism, which is now more or less dependent on the existence of private property for its development, will benefit by the abolition of such private property.
For the recognition of private property has really harmed Individualism, and obscured it, by confusing a man with what he possesses.
Private property has crushed true Individualism, and set up an Individualism that is false.
Corney shook her head mournfully, as if deploring the mental blindness of those paupers who did not know it; and thrusting a silver spoon (
private property) into the inmost recesses of a two-ounce tin tea-caddy, proceeded to make the tea.
Tulliver to lose the suit about the right of road and the bridge that made a thoroughfare of his land for every vagabond who preferred an opportunity of damaging
private property to walking like an honest man along the highroad; all lawyers were more or less rascals, but Wakem's rascality was of that peculiarly aggravated kind which placed itself in opposition to that form of right embodied in Mr.
At length, however, a kind friend suggested to him a means of doubling his
private property at one stroke; and further increasing it, hereafter, to an untold amount.
This is
private property, sir; you ought to know that.'