"
"'It is impossible,' is no argument. In point of fact, I do not hold
with your doctrines. I know that the working-classes suffer, but I
do not know why, and I do not believe your theorists when they say
it is all because the workingman is ground down by the capitalist.
Furthermore, you speak of leading--where am I to lead you to?"
"To victory against the plundering feudalism of the State."
"That is a mere phrase. I know of no plan which will sweep poverty
and distress from the face of the earth. Even if you raise a
revolution and it succeeds, even if you destroy the feudal State and
build up a workingman's State upon the ruins, you will thereby only
have improved the condition of a select few, not of the whole--not
even of the many. I would not like to be in the shoes of your
present leaders, preachers and prophets, when you have conquered,
and your followers demand to see the results of your victory. How
little they will then be able to fulfill of the promises they have
made to-day."
"So it is your opinion that there is nothing to be done for us, and
that we ought calmly to be left in want, and slavery, and
ignorance?" Hessel asked angrily.
"I think," returned Wilhelm, "that it is the bounden duty of every
man to love his neighbor, and help him where and when he can.
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