The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1871-04-01
LsIPzIe, Feb. 10, 1877.
To che EDITOR OF the woskIHGsAS's ADvocArH,
Next Friday week the ballot bat

many. All parties do their utmost to
stir the people up, and in the newspa-
pers there is plenty Of noise and puff.
ing and mutual recrimination, but on
the whole it cannot be denied that the
great bulk of the population persists in
a state Of Indifference. such as / have
never before witnessed on the eve of a
general election. What life and COM
motion was there for instance, when in
February, 1867, the first North German
Reichstag had to be elected. BY the
catastrophe Of the preceding summer
the old German confederation had been
shivered into atoms, universal suffrage
though stinted, yet bewitching gift,
has been granted for the first time since
the wild year Qs48), wonderful hopes
arose in the popular mind, not least in
those parts, where the new work Of
Count Bismarck, was thoroughly loath-
ed, and the throng to the ballot boxes
was really astonishing-every vote
thrown in being considered as seed
corn Of some undefDable, mysterious
better thing coming. Well, none of
these naive hopes were fulfilled; the
Reich stag proved one great disappoint-
ment; instead of mindiDg the interests
Of the people, it simply did Bismarck 5
bidding, accepted the constitution
framed by him to serve the ends of
Y ounkerdom and Militarism, consent
ed to nearly REIMBURSEMENT Of taxation,
and condemned itself to an ignominious
want of power. This was the euphon-
nistically so called constituent Reich
stag, and it separated after six or seven
weeks having finished its work with the
speed and docility Of properly man
aged steam engine. The elections that
followed in the summer of 1867 showed
a great falling off in public expectations
and excitement. In all districts the
of voters was much smaller than
in the preceding February, IN many
but half as large and smaller still. The
new Reichstag, worked in the spirit of
it's predecessor, did what it was ordered
and manifested servility, which, by
contrast, makes BOnaparte's Corps LIE
islatiff-of lackeys appear like body
Of stern, catonic republicans. Only
once it made some show of resistance
to the commands of its master, but as a
dim tallow rushligbt in big room rem
ders darkness darker, more visible, 50
this faint attempt of manliness merely
set the ordinary and general servllity 10
relief.* Alternately kicked and patted
on the back by the Government, this
Reichstagg expired in December last,
the shouts of laughter still reverberat-
ing with which, in a moment of self
recognition and self-judgment, it had
saluued its own activity in the matter
Of Emperor making. And now another
Reichstag is to be elected for the same
business, for the same purpose to do
nothing for the people, and to do all for
Mr.. Bismarck, to fetch aud carry Tor
bin, when he bids aud what he bids. |
To be elected, too, under conditions
made more unfavorable to democracy
and in fact to every independent party
than at the elections in the summer of
1867 the public brain absorbed and
by the wal, fAilitarism 9omi- I
nant as never before in German history,
nearly half Of Prussia under martial
law, the opponents Of the Bismarck's
policy either in prison or in imminent
danger of prison-what is to be expect
ed of elections performed under such |
And how can anybody talk
there Of fee elections. Add to this
misery, intensified by win
ter of unhaard OF fierceness-since No
vember it is al;nOst uninterruptedly cold,
and last week the thermometer fell for /
the third time below 20 degrees, yester-
night to % degrees-aDd you will read |
lily understand why there is little en-
thusiasm and effervesence with regard
to the impending Neutrality-suspicious.. /
Never mind the parliamentary com
edy, for which we are to send the actor
to Berlin-Shall we have peace that
is the question uppermost in peoples
the question Of all questions.
Not, what peace shall we have? Not
shall we get Alsace, Lorraine and un-
told millions, or shall we not No
purely and simply: Shall we have
peace ? Peace is the thing wanted.
Alsace and Lorraine shrink into moth
ingness at the side Of this immense
boon, so long withheld and so long un-
derrased, yea. scoffed at.
As is always the case when The
nerves have been overstrained for any
length Of time, by some exciting inhu-
ence, sudden and violent reaction OF
feeling has been caused i'll Germany by
the late decisive turn of things In
France. The great mass of the I'M
who, while the din Of battle
rung in their ears, were mad with patri-
otto enthusiastism, and dreamed Of a
golden future of national greatness and
prosperity spIinging from the Hood
MANFRED fields Of perfdious Welsbland,
have got amazingly sobered down, and
comparing their wild dreams with stern
reality, they are fast verging into that
uncomfortable state of mind which We
Germans call 'Katzenjammer" (misery
of the CATS and for which extremelde
gree If chopfallenness the English an
gusge has no word. Where is the prac-
teal substantial matter Of fact gain ?
Glory, victory is all very well, but hun
bred victories, be they ever so glorious
will not butter a single piece of bread;
and annexations, do they bring us the
slightest material advantage Will they
diminish taxation ? Promote trade and
commerce Be productive Of more
liberty? Not bit of it. Just the re-