In the existing society the instruments of labour are a monopoly of the
capitalist class; the subjection of the working class thus arising is
the cause of misery and servitude in every form.
The emancipation of the working class demands the transformation of the
instruments of labour into the common property of society and the
co-operative control of the total labour, with application of the
product of labour to the common good and just distribution of the same.
The emancipation of labour must be the work of the labouring class, in
contrast to which all other classes are only a reactionary mass.
II. Proceeding from these principles, the socialistic working men’s
party of Germany aims by all legal means at the establishment of the
free state and the socialistic society, to destroy the Iron Law of Wages
by abolishing the system of wage-labour, to put an end to exploitation
in every form, to remove all social and political inequality.
The socialistic working men’s party of Germany, though acting first of
all within the national limits, is conscious of the international
character of the labour movement, and resolved to fulfil all the duties
which this imposes on the workmen, in order to realise the universal
brotherhood of men.
* * * * *
In order to prepare the way for the solution of the social question, the
socialistic working men’s party of Germany demands the establishment of
socialistic productive associations with State help under the democratic
control of the labouring people. The productive associations are to be
founded on such a scale both for industry and agriculture that out of
them may develop the socialistic organisation of the total labour.
The socialistic working men’s party of Germany demands as the basis of
the State:—
I. Universal, equal, and direct right of electing and voting, with
secret and obligatory voting, of all citizens from twenty years of age,
for all elections and deliberations in the State and local bodies. The
day of election or voting must be a Sunday or holiday.
II. Direct legislation by the people. Questions of war and peace to be
decided by the people.
III. Universal military duty. A people’s army in place of the standing
armies.
IV. Abolition of all exceptional laws, especially as regards the press,
unions, and meetings, and generally of all laws which restrict freedom
of thought and inquiry.
V. Administration of justice by the people. Free justice.
VI. Universal and equal education by the State. Compulsory education.
Free education in all public places of instruction. Religion declared to
be a private concern.
The socialistic working men’s party demands within the existing society:
(1) Greatest possible extension of political rights and liberties in the
sense of the above demands.
(2) A single progressive income-tax for State and commune, instead of
the existing taxes, and especially of the indirect taxes that oppress
the people.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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