Page:Friedrich Adolf Sorge - Socialism and The Worker (1876).djvu/17

 mutual inclination and esteem. But, alas! in a great many cases it is not love, that ties the hymenal knot, it is "money" or some other "consideration," that makes marriages. How often, therefore, do we find dissatisfaction, unhappiness between husband and wife, shortly after the wedding! How often have marriages been annulled, because the couples found it unbearable to live with each other. How many more would be divorced, if there were not insurpassable obstacles, put up by church, state or society, which prevent them from doing so.

Now it is the firm belief of the Socialists, that it would indicate a higher moral standard in man, if money or any other outside consideration were not his guide in marrying, and if it was made easier for unhappily married people to obtain a divorce. For, what good can come from a union, which has to be sustained by force?

Now, where is the crime involved in such belief?

If it is beastly to dethrone in marriage the money or personal profits, to replace love to her righteous place again—the Socialists may be called beasts. They will stand by their belief, that, if two people are united by real love, their union is sacred by that love; if there is no love—you may as well dissolve the outward tie. This persuasion Socialists share with the most enlightened spirits, with the greatest poets and philosophers. If there is anything criminal or sinful in it, you must no longer venerate those honored men, you will have to break their statuesand burn their books, As long as you not do that, socialists will stick to their tenet: There is no power to be acknowledged in a moral intercourse of the sexes but "Love."

For this reason the socialists are open and irreconcilable enemies of prostitution. This is one of the blackest spots, disgracing modern society and there will—there must be a time, when neither poverty or rudeness forces a girl to become a prostitute nor the gold or high position of those in power will be able to break a human flower.

And now, open your eyes and look about! Who is it that strives to keep up a happy family-life? Who else, but the working-class, although it is very difficult in many instances! If the parents, father and mother, have been out all day to work, to procure a scanty living; if they return towards night weary, exhausted, there is not much occasion for the development of home bliss. And now, the children! All day they are in the street, left to themselves; at night they will get a scolding or a flogging by the angry parents, when these become cognizant of this or that naughtiness, commited by them. No education! The place of filial and parental love is in many cases taken by indifference or hatred! What will, what can become of children brought up in this way? It taken care of, they might have become useful members of human society; as it is, many of them turn criminals. Do you think, the poor workman does not feel that, would not like to help and prevent it, if it were in his power? Verily it is high time for remedy! But a