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is to destroy all previous securities for； and insurances of；
individual property。
All previous historical movements were movements of minorities；
or in the interests of minorities。 The proletarian movement is
the self…conscious； independent movement of the immense majority；
in the interests of the immense majority。 The proletariat； the
lowest stratum of our present society； cannot stir； cannot raise
itself up； without the whole superincumbent strata of official
society being sprung into the air。
Though not in substance； yet in form； the struggle of the
proletariat with the bourgeoisie is at first a national struggle。
The proletariat of each country must； of course； first of all
settle matters with its own bourgeoisie。
In depicting the most general phases of the development of the
proletariat； we traced the more or less veiled civil war； raging
within existing society； up to the point where that war breaks
out into open revolution； and where the violent overthrow of the
bourgeoisie lays the foundation for the sway of the proletariat。
Hitherto； every form of society has been based； as we have
already seen； on the antagonism of oppressing and oppressed
classes。 But in order to oppress a class； certain conditions
must be assured to it under which it can； at least； continue its
slavish existence。 The serf； in the period of serfdom； raised
himself to membership in the commune； just as the petty
bourgeois； under the yoke of feudal absolutism； managed to
develop into a bourgeois。 The modern laborer； on the contrary；
instead of rising with the progress of industry； sinks deeper and
deeper below the conditions of existence of his own class。 He
becomes a pauper； and pauperism develops more rapidly than
population and wealth。 And here it becomes evident； that the
bourgeoisie is unfit any longer to be the ruling class in
society； and to impose its conditions of existence upon society
as an over…riding law。 It is unfit to rule because it is
incompetent to assure an existence to its slave within his
slavery； because it cannot help letting him sink into such a
state； that it has to feed him； instead of being fed by him。
Society can no longer live under this bourgeoisie； in other
words； its existence is no longer compatible with society。
The essential condition for the existence； and for the sway of
the bourgeois class； is the formation and augmentation of
capital； the condition for capital is wage…labour。 Wage…labour
rests exclusively on competition between the laborers。 The
advance of industry； whose involuntary promoter is the
bourgeoisie； replaces the isolation of the labourers； due to
competition； by their revolutionary combination； due to
association。 The development of Modern Industry； therefore； cuts
from under its feet the very foundation on which the bourgeoisie
produces and appropriates products。 What the bourgeoisie；
therefore； produces； above all； is its own grave…diggers。 Its
fall and the victory of the proletariat are equally inevitable。
II。 PROLETARIANS AND COMMUNISTS
In what relation do the Communists stand to the proletarians as a
whole？
The Communists do not form a separate party opposed to other
working…class parties。
They have no interests separate and apart from those of the
proletariat as a whole。
They do not set up any sectarian principles of their own；
by which to shape and mould the proletarian movement。
The Communists are distinguished from the other working…class
parties is only： （1） In the national struggles of the
proletarians of the different countries； they point out and bring
to the front the common interests of entire proletariat；
independently of nationality。 （2） In the various stages of
development which the struggle of the working class against the
bourgeoisie has to pass through； they always and everywhere
represent the interests of the movement as a whole。
The Communists； therefore； are on the one hand； practically；
the most advanced and resolute section of the working…class
parties of every country； that section which pushes forward all
others； on the other hand； theoretically； they have over the
great mass of the proletariat the advantage of clearly
understanding the line of march； the conditions； and the ultimate
general results of the proletarian movement。
The immediate aim of the Communist is the same as that of all
the other proletarian parties： formation of the proletariat into
a class； overthrow of the bourgeois supremacy； conquest of
political power by the proletariat。
The theoretical conclusions of the Communists are in no way
based on ideas or principles that have been invented； or
discovered； by this or that would…be universal reformer。 They
merely express； in general terms； actual relations springing from
an existing class struggle； from a historical movement going on
under our very eyes。 The abolition of existing property
relations is not at all a distinctive feature of Communism。
All property relations in the past have continually been subject
to
historical change consequent upon the change in historical
conditions。
The French Revolution； for example； abolished feudal property in
favour of bourgeois property。
The distinguishing feature of Communism is not the abolition of
property generally； but the abolition of bourgeois property。 But
modern bourgeois private property is the final and most complete
expression of the system of producing and appropriating products；
that is based on class antagonisms； on the exploitation of the
many by the few。
In this sense； the theory of the Communists may be summed up in
the single sentence： Abolition of private property。
We Communists have been reproached with the desire of abolishing
the right of personally acquiring property as the fruit of a
man's own labour； which property is alleged to be the groundwork
of all personal freedom； activity and independence。
Hard…won； self…acquired； self…earned property！ Do you mean the
property of the petty artisan and of the small peasant； a form of
property that preceded the bourgeois form？ There is no need to
abolish that； the development of industry has to a great extent
already destroyed it； and is still destroying it daily。
Or do you mean modern bourgeois private property？
But does wage…labour create any property for the labourer？ Not
a bit。 It creates capital； i。e。； that kind of property which
exploits wage…labour； and which cannot increase except upon
condition of begetting a new supply of wage…labour for fresh
exploitation。 Property； in its present form； is based on the
antagonism of capital and wage…labour。 Let us examine both sides
of this antagonism。
To be a capitalist； is to have not only a purely personal； but a
social status in production。 Capital is a collective product；
and only by the united action of many members； nay； in the last
resort； only by the united action of all members of society；
can it be set in motion。
Capital is； therefore； not a personal； it is a social power。
When； therefore； capital is converted into common property； into
the
property of all members of society； personal property is not
thereby
transformed into social property。 It is only the social
character of
the property that is changed。 It loses its class…character。
Let us now take wage…labour。
The average price of wage…labour is the minimum wage； i。e。；
that quantum of the means of subsistence； which is absolutely
requisite in bare existence as a labourer。 What； therefore； the
wage…labourer appropriates by means of his labour； merely
suffices to prolong and reproduce a bare existence。 We by no
means intend to abolish this personal appropriation of the
products of labour； an appropriation that is made for the
maintenance and reproduction of human life； and that leaves no
surplus wherewith to command the labour of others。 All that we
want to do away with； is the miserable character of this
appropriation； under which the labourer lives merely to increase
capital； and is allowed to live only in so far as the interest of
the ruling class requires it。
In bourgeois society； living labour is but a means to increase
accumulated labour。 In Communist society； accumulated labour
is but a means to widen； to enrich； to promote the existence
of the labourer。
In bourgeois society； therefore； the past dominates the present；
in Communist society； the present dominates the past。 In
bourgeois society capital is independent and has individuality；
while the living person is dependent and has no individuality。
And the abolition of this state of things is called by the
bourgeois；
abolition of individuality and freedom！ And rightly so。 The
abolition
of bourgeois individuality； bourgeois independence； and bourgeois
freedom is undoubtedly aimed at。