3) Advocates of Emigration etc (p. 10)

The only plan ⦗Owens⦘Bemerkung von Marx. which appears to meet all the exigencies of the case is that which proposes the employment of idle capital, at legal interest, to enable the unemployed poor to support themselves; so that whatever number of workmen the use of mechanism may deprive of employment, may be taken up by establishments created by this capital; that the poor may no longer place their ultimate dependence on the cold hand of parochial charity. Indeed, parochial relief cannot continue for a very protacted protracted period, as it is well known that, in more than one parish, the greatly increased poor-rates have totally ruined the whole parish, every inhabitant having sunk into pauperism or fled from the devoted spot. (10, 11) Can it be possible, that at the present period, when our poorrates are so excessive, and, combined with our taxes, almost insupportable, that any political economist can oppose attempts to enable the poor to subsist independent of parochial aid? (11 note)

At A. Smith’s period „things soon found their own level“. (16)

Some political economists will … object to the raising of British corn, when equally good can be imported at a lower rate, as being injurious to the increase of national wealth. But it is doubtful whether the accumulation of capital in the hands of a few hundreds of individuals, is so important at the present crisis, as the more general distribution of wealth. (16, 17, note)

Aber sagen sie: Mr Owen’s plan may fail and thus capital may be lost. Aber wie viel Millions of capital annually sacrificed to the poor-laws? (18)

Mit Bezug auf details enthalten in the Appendix of the Select Committee of the House of Commons appointed to consider the poor laws, sagt Edinburgh Review vol. 29. p. 501: „Such is the extraordinary picture, exhibited on the highest authority, of the richest, the most industrious, and the most moral population that probably ever existed; more than 9/10 of its whole amount occasionally subsisting on public charity, and the nation taxed for their support in an annual sum larger than its whole revenue in the days of its greatest power and glory; and in spite of all these exertions, the evil uniformly and rapidly progressive.“

Dann, wenn dies Argument nicht zieht, die political economist economists »suddenly change their position, and exclaim against the extensive evils which Mr. Owen’s arrangements must create by increasing our present population.« (19, 20)

This is the substance of their reasoning: „If you cause plenty and comfort to abound among the poor, they will increase with such rapidity that the means of subsistence will no longer be found for them.“ And yet, these are the individuals who censure the proposed arrangements, on the plea of the probable loss which their promoter promoters will sustain from their not being likely to answer their intended purpose. Now, if these establishments will not yield a profit of 5%, more than one will not be formed; and then … end of the argument … of their creating an excessive population. But if … they yield this moderate profit, then will these establishments increase and, through them, the means of subsistence for the whole island; as additional labour will be devoted to agriculture. (20)

Nur so fern hat Malthus recht, that unless new arrangements are formed in society „crime and misery must increase with our increasing population“; ja it is to be dreaded lest the ratio of their increase very far outstrip the calculation of statesmen. (20, 21) Aber »famine, crime and misery« are in fact as effectually repressed by increasing the means of subsistence as by diminishing our existing population. (21)

The wants of the world have been long supplied through a commerce founded on a profit upon cost price, a minute division of labour, and a competition of individual interests. (1, 2)

The various systems founded on these principles have been, perhaps, necessary and useful for a particular period of human affairs; the overwhelming influence of scientific improvements, however, is now rapidly bringing that period to a termination. These systems cannot much longer proceed; and profit upon price cannot henceforth be generally obtained. (2)

The minute division of labour has materially deteriorated the human race, by dividing, and thereby weakening, their physical and mental powers; and a competition of individual interests, by creating a general opposition of interests, now destroys the real interests of society, and of every individual of which it is composed. (2)

In the rude ages of the world, before mechanical and other scientific inventions were known, the natural wants of men exceeded the productions of their industry; for much labour was necessary even to create their ordinary food, clothing, and a few simple conveniences, and it was then, if ever, that an excess of population existed. But when, by mechanical and other inventions and improvements, the natural wants of men came to be more easily supplied, artificial wants were then excited, and a new era commenced. A commerce was established, founded on a profit upon price, and individual gain became the ruling passion throughout society. A profit upon price for individual gain, and the accumulation of useless and unnecessary individual wealth, brought into action the lower passions of human nature; a false estimate of all things ensued, and every thing became valued by its cost, instead of its intrinsic worth. Cunning and deception etc (l. c.)

Ebenso minute division of labour u. competition of individual interests have been also found to degrade the human character – materially to weaken the social system, – and to involve society, in its utmost advanced stages, in every kind of difficulty. (2, 3)

A profit upon price can be obtained only, when the demand is equal to, or exceeds the supply, while the real interest of society requires that the supply should, at all times, exceed the demand; and herein will be found the vast, the incalculable advantage of general and united interest over individual and conflicting interest; inasmuch as supply cannot be permitted adventageously to exceed demand under the system of individual and opposing interest. (3)

Fortunately, for society, in the present advanced state of science, injuriously as science is now directed, demand cannot exceed, or be equal to supply; for a small number of men, with the aid of science properly directed, can easily produce far more than a large number can (advantageously for themselves) consume. The powers of production, aided by science, being almost unlimited. ⦗the new powers of supply, in Great Britain, derived from science within the last 40 years, exceeds the labour of 350 millions of adults. dies in Note p. 3⦘ At the period when peace was last proclaimed, the new powers of supply which had been called into action by the previous extraordinary demand for the materials of war, were discovered to be far too abundant for the former peace arrangements of society, founded, as they were, on a profit upon price: and from that period, a profit on price upon the average of all British Productions has not been obtained; nor is it likely that a profit upon price can be again procured, except through some great public calamity. For a commercial system, founded on profit upon price, can only be again successful through foreign or domestic war, pestilence, or famine. (3)

Also nothwendig, und alle Welt giebt dies zu, measures to relieve civilized society from the injurious effects now experienced by a system of commerce, founded on a profit upon price, and from the difficulties arising, under this system, from the excess of produce, generated by the new powers of supply, derived from science, which new powers of supply, however, when properly directed, will secure to the whole of society the highest permanent prosperity. … All parties agree in thinking that „something must be done“. It is now evident, that that something, by whatever means it may be attained in practice, must permit supply greatly to exceed demand, that there may be an evident excess of supply For All , without injury to the producers. … It is not the interest of any portion of society that production should be restrained, until the wants of all shall have been fully supplied. The existing arrangements of society permit production and consumption to proceed only through profit upon price … a profit upon price, to be successful, must always necessarily limit the supply within the demand. Productions can be easily created to an unlimited extent, even to over-supply the wants of all, why then should not the wants of all be now over-supplied? It is however inpracticable to permit those who are now in want to supply themselves, except through their own labour, and also without the means being secured by which there shall be at all times an excess of supply over consumption without injury to the producers. (4) »This appalling difficulty, in political economy, can be alone overcome in the present stage of society, by scientific arrangements … which shall permit the producers, advantageously for all ranks, not only to produce with facility, but also to consume a larger portion than heretofore, of that which they produce. … it assuredly cannot be effected by a profit upon price, which the advanced state of society, and of the sciences will no longer permit; but it can, and must be effected through arrangements which are to allow of unlimited productions, and encourage the unrestrained exchange of them.« (4, 5)

The change will, most advantageously for society, commence with those who are in the lowest rank. The arrangements alluded to, are in consequence made for those who are now paupers, who subsist on the industry and wealth of others, and who are not only a burthen to all classes, but a fertile source of crime. (5) Dieser change ist unter gegenwärtigen circumstances der society nur »practicable« »by means of competing for a short time with the existing commercial system … and by these means the change becomes not only natural, but irresistible.« (6)

All cost resolves itself into labour … it is evident that those arrangements which can produce the most skilful labour at the least expense, and at the same time support the labourer in the best health and most comfort, will, upon common commercial principles, put all other methods out of the market. (6)

The members of these communities will be able, with facility, to create a considerable surplus beyond their own consumption; this surplus produce they will exchange for the surplus produce of other similar communities, by estimating the value of such surplus produce in labour, and not in money, as at present. By this arrangement they will receive all their external supply, and thereby render money, and all money transactions wholly unnecessary; their labour, for these arrangements, will require no other representative than notes or vouchers, to be given when the articles are delivered at the appointed depot; these notes or vouchers will designate the exact amount of labour contained in such articles, which amount will be estimated upon equitable principles, ascertained and fixed by the communities.* (Heisst in der Note dazu*:Zusatz von Marx. (p. 11*) ⦗Their transactions with present society will, of course, be carried on by means of the usual circulating medium.⦘ Thus all bargaining, and its degrading effects on the human character, will be obviated. But even this stage of society will be but temporary; for, by the most simple arrangements, which will be beneficial to all, supply may be made so far to exceed any possible demand, that it will be discovered, in a comparatively short time, that all may use whatever they desire, without the necessity existing for the intervention of any immediate equivalent. (11)

The general advantages of these new arrangements are (to state them in a few words) that they clearly discover to us the only true solution of that, hitherto most difficult, problem in political economy, viz: – The due distribution of that immense amount of production which manufactures and agriculture, aided by machinery and other scientific purposesBei Owen: improvements, can now create. Under these arrangements, an abundant harvest and a liberal supply of all useful and agreeable commodities by machinery, will not produce (as under the existing system) distress and ruin, – on the contrary, these arrangements will effectually Prevent the rising generation from being subject to poverty, or the fear of poverty – will preserve them from ignorance – from acquiring any bad habits or dispositions – from all cause of anger or malevolence towards their fellow creatures etc (11)

Schliesst mit den Worten:Zusatz von Marx.

»And it can never be too much impressed on the public mind, that the only solid foundation of public liberty is to be found in the full supply of the wants – in the virtuous habits – in the intelligence, and consequence consequent happiness of the whole population.« (12)

p. 66, 67, 68, 71, 72: „The human law which binds one man to the same woman, and the woman to the man through life, whether or not they can retain an affection for each other, has produced more hatred, and destroyed more love between these parties than would otherwise have taken place, probably many thousand fold. It has produced a general practice of the most gross as well as refined falsehood, and the deepest deception between these parties, and to the public … This permanent artificial union of a single pair for life, has forced a system of promiscuous intercourse, in those countries in which this law prevails, most degrading and injurious to the physical, intellectual and moral character and conduct of both sexes; and thereby produced an extent of injustice, cruelty, and misery, especially to the female, beyond the power of any written statement, or mere wordy document to enable the present race of man to comprehend … through the natural effect of these vicious institutions of the priesthood, acting and reacting continually upon human nature, they are also calculated, as well as if they were devised for the purpose, to constitute a weak, artificial, heartless, miserable condition of human society. This Christian custom cannot therefore, be intended to be the practice of the human race when they shall acquire sufficient experience to become rational creatures.“

„Then the Eastern legal custom of one man having permission to have as many wives as he can maintain, although perhaps, less injurious in some respects than the customs of the Christians, and especially as it materially diminishes promiscuous intercourse, is nevertheless, a most unfortunate device for mankind. It tends powerfully to make men and women weak, jealous, irrational beings. It destroys the confidence of man in woman, and woman in man, and makes woman a mere slave to man’s sexual propensitiesBei Buchanan, S. 36: propensity; it tends to perpetuate woman in a state of mental childhood … creates an ignorant and most antisocial state of society etc etc“

„We, therefore, pronounce that neither of these modes of restricting the intercourse between the sexes, will ever produce a virtuous, intelligent, rational, or happy state of human society; and that it will be more in accordance with common sense and with virtue, for Nature, when man and woman shall be trained to be rational creatures, to direct her own proceedings, and to decide upon her own operations. But before this very superior state of existence can be obtained, new general external arrangements must be introduced, of a very different character to those which now exist throughout society …

Many persons conceive that nothing can be easier than to establish a community, and to carry the system into practice; but no community has yet been begun which did not consist of married couples. I have known from the first that no such practice could succeed, as the interest of private families is quite opposed to that of a number of equally free and intelligent individuals.“

Great „domestic, social, and political changes must first be made, before any change can be ventured upon in the institutions of Marriage.“ (aus Owen citirt p. 38 des pamphlets von Buchanan)Bemerkung von Marx. Buchanan zitiert S. 38 die hier von Marx exzerpierte Passage aus Owens „Lectures on the Marriages of the Priesthood“.