It is hostile to the national class distinctions, and strains every nerve to undermine the existing power of the State.
It is evident that the State cannot tolerate quietly this dangerous agitation, and that it must hinder, by every means, the efforts of the anti-constitutionalist party to effect their purpose.

The law of self-preservation demands this; but it is clear that, to a certain point, the pretensions of the working classes are justified.

The citizen may fairly claim to protect himself from poverty by work, and to have an opportunity of raising himself in the social scale, if he willingly devotes his powers.

He is entitled to demand that the State should grant this claim, and should be bound to protect him against the tyranny of capital.
Two means of attaining such an object are open to the State: first, it may create opportunities of work, which secure remunerative employment to all willing hands; secondly, it may insure the workman by legislation against every diminution in his capacity to work owing to sickness, age, or accident; may give him material assistance when temporarily out of work, and protect him against compulsion which may hinder him from working.
The economical prosperity of Germany as the visible result of three victorious campaigns created a labour market sufficiently large for present purposes, although without the conscious intention of the State.
German labour, under the protection of the political power, gained a market for itself.

On the other hand, the German State has intervened with legislation, with full consciousness of the end and the means.