ABSTRACT
1. Summary:—Summary of the conditions favourable or unfavourable to the development of Socialism—Present power of Socialism. 2. The elements of success of Socialism:—Fundamental principles of Socialism —Socialism constitutes a mental state rather than a doctrine—Its danger resides not in the adherence of the crowd, but in that of enlightened minds—Social upheavals begin always from above and not from below—The example of the Revolution—The prevailing state of mind at the time of the Revolution—Its analogy to the present time —The directing classes are to-day losing all faith in the justice of their cause—The promises of Socialism. 3. What will come of the success of Socialism in the nations in which it triumphs:—Opinion of eminent modern thinkers—They all arrive at the same conclusions—The immediate destiny of the nations in which Socialism should establish itself — Disorganisation and anarchy will promptly give rise to Cæsarism—Hypothesis of the peaceful and progressive establishment of Socialism. 4. How the Socialists might seize on the government of a country:—The modern armies and their mental state—The end of a society becomes inevitable when once its army turns against it—How the Hispano-American republics have fallen into anarchy through the disintegration of their armies. 5. How Socialism may be fought against:—The necessity of knowing the secrets of its strength and weakness, as well as the mental states of its disciples—The means of influencing crowds—Why a society must perish when its natural defenders shrink from conflict and exertion—Nations perish through effeminacy of character, not by the decrease of intelligence—How Athens, Rome, and Byzantium perished.
