The English socialists are never as much as mentioned. The Ricardian doctrine of labour-value, which is the basis of Thompson’s theory and of Owen’s, and later still of that of Marx, seems never to have become known to them. “Questions of value, price, and production, which demand no fundamental knowledge either of the composition or the organisation of society,” are treated as so many details (Le Producteur, vol. iv, p. 388). Their doctrine is primarily social, containing only occasional allusions to political economy. Enfantin is careful to distinguish between Quesnay and his school and Smith or Say. The Physiocrats gave a social character to their doctrine, which the economists wrongfully neglected to develop. Aug. Comte, in the fourth volume of the Cours de Philosophie, has criticised political economy in almost identical terms, which affords an additional proof of his indebtedness to Saint-Simonism.
[437] Cf. especially Dumas, Psychologie de deux Messies positivistes, Saint-Simon et A. Comte (Paris, 1905), and for biographical details Weill, Saint-Simon et son Œuvre (1894).
[438] Weill, Saint-Simon et son Œuvre, p. 15.
[439] In 1814 De la Réorganisation de la Société européenne, by Saint-Simon and A. Thierry, his pupil; 1817-18, Industrie, in 4 vols. (the 3rd vol. and the first book of the 4th vol. are the work of A. Comte); 1819, La Politique; 1821, Le Système industriel; 1823-24, Le Catéchisme des Industriels (the third book, by A. Comte, bears the title Système de Politique positive); 1825, Le Nouveau Christianisme. Our quotations from Saint-Simon are taken from the Œuvres de Saint-Simon et d’Enfantin, published by members of the committee instituted by Enfantin for carrying out the master’s last wishes (Paris, Dentu, 1865), and from the Œuvres choisies de Saint-Simon, published in 3 vols. by Lemonnier of Brussels (1859).
[440] L’Organisateur, Part I, 1819, pp. 10-20. This passage was republished by Olinde Rodrigues in 1832 under the title of Une Parabole politique in a volume of miscellaneous writings by Saint-Simon, with the result that Saint-Simon was prosecuted before the Cour d’Assises. He was acquitted, however.
[441] “With the enfranchisement of the communes we shall witness the middle classes at last in enjoyment of their liberty, setting up as a political power. The essence of that power will consist in freedom from being imposed upon by others without consent. Gradually it will become richer and stronger, at the same time growing in political importance and improving its social position in every respect, with the result that the other classes, which may be called the theological or feudal classes, will dwindle in estimation as well as in their real importance. Whence I conclude that the industrial classes must continue to gain ground, and finally to include the whole of society. Such seems to be the trend of things—the direction in which we are moving.” (Lettres à un Américain, Œuvres, vol. ii, p. 166.)
[442] “Industry is the basis of liberty. Industry can only expand and grow strong with the growth of liberty. Were this doctrine, so old in fact but so new to many people, once fully grasped instead of those fictitious dreams of antiquity, we should have heard the last of such sanguinary phrases as ‘equality or death.’” (Œuvres, vol. ii, pp. 210-211.)
[443] “Lawyers and metaphysicians are wont to take appearance for reality, the name for the thing.” (Syst. indust., Œuvres, vol. v., p. 12.)
[444] “Parliamentary government must be regarded as an indispensable step in the direction of industrialism.” (Œuvres, vol. iii, p. 22.) “It is absolutely necessary if the transition from the essentially arbitrary régime which has existed hitherto is to be replaced by the ideal liberal régime which is bound to come into being by and by.” (Ibid. p. 21.)
[445] Writing in 1803 in his Lettres d’un Habitant de Genève, he uses the following words: “Everyone will be obliged to do some work. The duty of employing one’s personal ability in furthering the interests of humanity is an obligation that rests upon the shoulders of everyone.” (Œuvres, vol. i, p. 55.)