The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1884-05-17 00:00:00

PRINCE BISMARCK ON SOCIALISM.

In the German Reichstag on the 9th inst., the
debate on the Socialist law was resumed by Herr
Richter, who, with his usual skill, insisted on the
failure of the existing legislation, as proved by the
fact that the Socialists had constantly increased since
it was passed. Herr von Puttkamer replied, the only
point of interest in his speech being the announce-
ment that the Government would not accept Herr
Windthorst's amendments. He concluded by hinting
at the dissolution which would follow on the
rejection of the bill. Prince Bismarck, who had
just entered the House, then rose and spoke at
some length, and with even more than his usual
bitten, ess. His social programme he declared to be
as follows: "Give the workman bread—that is to
say, work so long as he is in good health; give him
, support when ill; provide for him in old age, and
then we shall want no exceptional laws." He.
announced that the Emperor had in 1881 taken the
initiative in promoting international action against
the Anarchists, immediately after the attempt on the
Czar in the month of March in that year. He then
sent an autograph letter to the Chancellor, urging co-
operation against the manufacture, sale, or import of
explosives. Russia accepted the proposal, and suggested
a conference at Brussels. Germany and Austria con-
sented; whilst France, following the lead of England,
refused. "We continued the negotiations," said the
Chancellor, "in order to effect an agreement at least
between Austria, Russia, and Germany. We wanted
to abolish the fiction that murder could be justified
by political motives, and that the poisoning of Sove-
reigns was useful or oecumble if committed in order
to bring about a change of system." The negotia-
tions, however, had come to nothing. Prince Bis-
marck further declared that the passing of a Dynamite
Law on the part of the German Government alone to
be useless. The great Powers should come to an
1 agreement on the matter. He then proceeded to deny
deny that Russian Nihilism was similar to German
Socialism. Germany, eighteen years ago, when young
Blind had attempted his (Bismarck's) life, was at the
present standpoint of Nihilism. The Russian
Nihilists were half-educated, corrupted students and
officers. No Russian workman was a Nihilist, bat all
faithful adherents of the Czar. Exactly the opposite
was the case in Germany now, where the majority of
the Socialists were workmen. Prince Bismarck then
announced that if the bill were rejected the House
would meet again on the '3rd of August, and be im-
mediately dissolved and new elections announced.
He would ten say-to the electors, "If you want to
be free from- the..*Soc:ialist danger, you will not elect
Progressists.".
Herr von Treifsolike then spoke, after which Herr
Richter endeavoured to reply to the powerful speech
of the Chancellor. The latter then rose for the
• second time, refusing to answer in detail all Her
Richter's" petty insinuations," but passionately
declaring that he considered it his highest duty to
oppose " Progressist'Liberalism,"
.till his last breath.
Prince Bismarck further attacked the Poor-law
administration of Berlin, whereupon Herr Forcken-
beck, first Burgomaster of Berlin, replied very bitterly,
iteclaring the Chancellor's assertions to be calumnies
disproved by official documents. Prince Bismarck
then offered to withdraw the charges if Herr
Forckenbeck would communicate to him the docu-
ments he had cited.