These observations made me wish to introduce a system which would work smoothly, and in which there would be no question of suits-at-law, or investigations into anyone’s culpability.  The latter is quite immaterial for him who has been injured.  He remains unfortunate, crippled, and unable to earn a living, if this has been his lot, or, if he has been killed, his family is left without its bread-winner, whether the accident was due to criminal neglect, carelessness, or unavoidable circumstances.  These are not questions of corrective or distributive justice, but of protection.  Without a proper law a great part of our population is helpless before the hardships of life, or the consequences of an accident.  Without any capital of their own these people have no redress against the cruelties which are the lot of the pauper who has become a public charge.

I will not reply at length to the reproach that this is communism, but I should like to ask you not to discuss everything from the point of view of party-strategy, or faction-strategy, or from the feeling “away with Bismarck.”  We have to do here with matters where not one of us can see his way clearly, and where we must search for the right road with sticks and sounding-rods.  I should like to see another man in my place as speedily as possible, if he would continue my work.  I should gladly say to him, “Son, take up your father’s spear,” even if he were not my own son.  This undesirable way of discussing matters showed itself the other day, when the gentlemen fought for “the poor man,” as if they had to do with the body of Patroclus.  Mr. Lasker took hold of him at one end, and I tried to snatch him away from Mr. Lasker as best I could.  But where do imputed motives, and class-hatred, and the excitement of misery and suffering lead us?  Such behavior comes too near being socialism in the sense in which Mr. von Puttkamer exposed it the other day.

Alms constitute the first step of Christian charity, such as must exist in France, for instance, to a great extent.  There are no poor-laws in France, and every poor man has the right to starve to death if charitable people do not prevent him from doing so.  Charity is the first duty, and the second is, the assistance given by districts and according to law.  A State, however, which is composed very largely of Christians—­even if you are horrified at hearing it called a Christian State,—­should let itself be permeated with the principles which it confesses, and especially with those which have to do with the help of our neighbors, and the sympathy one feels for the lot which threatens the old and the sick.