The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-09-23

YkUM LEIPZIG.

TO the b1hor of We NofEnomAMb ADvocAru-
At Versailles the trial Of the Com
munialist prisoners has begun at last.
The Court Martial is to murder in the
name Of law those that the beastalized
saldatiska were unable to kilI-Ude vie-
tbs Our civilized bourgeoise stands on
the same level as the most barbarous
nations and tribes it has no other way
to deal with it's enemies but to slsugh-
ter them. And class. or a political
system, which exists only by sheer bru-
tai force. and which to sustain himself
is obliged to shed human blood whole.
sale-is doomed to perdition. From
the earliest times Of history we see all
empires based on brutal force going to
pieces with the unfaiIing certainty Of a
scientific law. That which alone is
eternal in history is Progress, is De
velopment; intellectual, economical
and founded on both, moral. Every
attempt to trsmmel this progress, to
cripple or resist this development proves
futile, and the foolish criminals or Grim
inal fools, who make the attempt are
covered with infamy and ridicule. And
the farther humanity IS advanced the
sooner retribution overtakes them.
How completely was The Commune con.
quered. Every spark of socialism
seemed to be stamped out in France.
And 10 I! the recent municipal elections
at Paris-elections taking place under
the state OF siege. on ground still reek-
ing with the blood OF 1000 socialists,
and IN the sight of prisons and dun
geons, in which 10000 more are con-
fined-have resulted ia signal tri-
nmph OF socialism, FIVE members or
adherrnts of the Commune having got
an absolute majority, and one of them,
even in three electoral districts Either
Mr. Theirs and his accomplices must
speedily organize q new massacre, or
the victorious idea of the Commune will
swallow them up. And a new massacre
could not be more radical and success
ful than the list one. Thus our bour-
geoise society is moving in a circle "a
cieSr Of stupid terror and civil repres-
sion. until the spell is broken BY the f.
nal resurrection Of the martyrized Pro-
letariat
In Germany the different govern
ments ore really az their wits end with
regard to the working class movement.
The scribes OF the Prussian press bu-
reau contradict themselves and one
another in the most ludicrous manner.
One day socialism H. to be sunihilated
With 6ap and sword, the other day we
are told violent measures are OF no use
and the government have no reason to
interfere before they are attacked TIE
latter being the more sensible course,
will Just for that reason not be adopted;
and, as | told You already. we must he
prepared for a vehement police crusade
against social democracy. The first
step will probably be the introduction Of
an imperial law OF meeting and asso-
ciating, still more reactIonary than
those now in power-though | must
own it will be rather a difficult task to
frame such a one.
In the meantime our principles are
spreading fast. Here in Leipzig, for
instance, commercial town Of about
$4,000 inhabitants, with industrial sub
urhs ,nptaipipnr pnVna InO ann ,.LoL,
tants, our party may be said to pre-
dominate now. During the last months
we have had three immense mass
meetings-one concerning municipal
abuses, the two others the Commune Of
Paris-and in neither Of them our ad-
versaries have dared to oppose US, so
crushing was the weight Of the facts
and arguments produced on our part.
"A large portion of the smaller middle
class are sympathizing with US, and |
have not the slightest doubt that the
next elections will be in our favor. And
Leipzig is perhaps in all Germany is the
town which was most hostile to Us yet
short time ago.
In the position of our great strikes
some important changes have 10 be re-
poated. The Cigar Makers have had
the best at Waldheim and the worst at
Offenbach. while at Halbersiadt things
are IN the old state; but in consequence
Of the 6rmnesss Of the Masters Asso-
citation, | am afraid the men will have
to give in thers also. Nothing better il
to be said OF the Berlin strike. The
number out Of work Is so great, that
the necessary funds for their sus Q.
nance cannot be procured, and the small
savings on whirh most OF the families
are living at present, are well nigh, il
not totally exhausted. The only chance
left to the men ia, that the term for the
execution Of many large building con
tracts i fast approaching, and that, in
case the buildings are not finished al
the stipulated time the Masters will
have forfeited large sums. If the men
can hold out a fortnight longer, then
their conditions will have to be accept
ed by the Masters. BIZ. will they be
able u hold out so longl | have my
misgivings, and know that people at
the head If the strike have theirs, too.
The Barmen strike looks very prom
ising 50 tar; the brisk state Of the bu.
siness is greatly TO the advantage Of the
men. Some of the Masters that formed
the Lookout Association, have left the
League and consented TO the demands
Of their hands, nd from e news We
received this morning appears that
only the Metal Workers are on strike
still to the number Of about a thousand.
As they are assisted by the other work
men of Barmen, Eiberf,ld, with whom
they had made common cause at the
beginning, and who partly owe them
their victory, and As collections are
being made for them all over Germany,
il is to be hoped that the Barmen iron
manufacturers will not succeed in
starving their men INTO submission.