The Chautauquan, Vol. 03, May 1883Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle
History
The Chautauquan, Vol. 03, May 1883
Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle
Chautauqua Institution -- Periodicals; Chautauqua Literary and Scientific Circle -- Periodicals
In the town of Delitzsch, in the province of Posen, resides a man—Herr
Schulze-Delitzsch—who has devoted himself almost exclusively for
years to the study of the labor question and the elevation of the
working classes. He is a great reformer, but escapes being known as
a revolutionist. More practical and perhaps more methodical than
Lasalle, he relies not upon the state for aid, but upon the sympathy
and help of the working classes themselves. He organized workingmen’s
associations, union stores, etc. France, Belgium, Italy, and even
England, became awakened, and looked with interest upon his work, and
inquiries were made by authority of the English government into the
real manner and methods adopted. As a writer on the subject remarks:
“Schulze’s methods are economical and reformatory; Lasalle’s were
political and revolutionary.” The _Credit und Vorschuss Verein_,
which is a species of savings bank, was practically his work. The
members contributed of their savings to this fund, and when old age,
sickness, or misfortune overtook them, and they were obliged to give
up laboring by the day, they were in turn helped. The _Vereins_ were
entirely under the management of the members. The investment of the
capital was entirely under their control, the surplus being divided
annually, and the “sick funds” and “funeral funds” were distributed
by them. The first institution was founded in 1850, and in 1869 the
number reached 1,750. The permanent capital was then 12,000,000
thalers. The hired laborers form a tenth of the membership of the
unions, and they are on the increase; the farmers something more
than a fifth; the tradesmen a tenth, and the mechanics a third. The
farmer’s aim is, in part, the procuring, in common, seed, implements,
etc.; in part, the sale in common of milk, butter, cheese, hops,
wine, and other products. Thus, through moderate and just ideas and
management, much has been accomplished. Working people must not be
fed on incendiary ideas. Ruskin’s lectures to working men savor of
_dilettante_ ideas. A man who has never been poor rarely knows how
to appeal to the poor or guide them. Schulze-Delitzsch’s philosophy
has been learned from actual experience. There is nothing of the
factious orator about him, but he is calm and persuasive. He is not a
social-democrat, but belongs to the progressive party, which stands
for the most advanced form of liberalism. He organizes the poor to
teach them to resist their own worst faults. He was burgomaster of
Delitzsch at one time, after leaving political life in the capital,
because of differences which arose. He was assisted by his mother to
go on lecturing tours, and when this was no longer practicable—as she
had also small means—there was a purse raised by the citizens, which
reached the sum of 50,000 thalers; the greater part being given by
the poor working people in paltry sums. Thus he was saved for higher
work, and gave up the position of burgomaster. He accepted this money
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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