The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1878-06-27
The Growth Of soclaIlsm IN Germany.


years ago the German empire was es-
tablished; If affairs go on as they are
now going, in 1888 we may see the
German republic founded. Perhaps
before then. The French empire lasted
for eighteen years; out of it, through the
bloody parturitioR of the commune, was
born the French republic. Germany
appears to be treading the same path.
1t is not necessary to attach political
meaning to the two recent attempts
upon the emperor's life, so far as the
miscreants themselves were concerned.
But the refusal of the Reichstag to
accept the legislation proposed by the
crown in consequence of HOedePs att
tempt is very significant it remains to
be seen what will be the political conse-
quence of the more serious attempt OF
Modelling.
The Berlin correspondent OF the Lon
don Times-a shreWd observer, q well
informed man, and one having the best
sources of information at his command
has written several letters to his Jour
nal, delineating the growth of socialism
in Germany. He properly places DIR.
Lss ale IS the John the Baptist of the
new gospel. But Prince Bismarck must
be regarded SIS the st. Paul Of the sect.
He has, however, reversed the role of
the apostle to the Gentil6s Saul first
pers scuted the Christians and then be-
came their advocate, changing his name
as he changed his faith; Bismarck first
set socialism on its feet in Germany and
made it power now he is prosecuting
it, and has not changed his name. In
1866. when the German parliament was
first constituted, the so-called Liberals,
of whom Bismarck was the antagonist,
were much like the Wing party OF Eng
land when it was led by Lord John Rus
sell. The rank and file of the German
Liberal faction were composed of middle
class men, the bourgeoise; they clamored
for liberty themselves that they might
pull down those above them; they did
not wish liberty for the peasants and
artisans, lest these might rise to their own
level Suddenly, Bismarck astonished
them by playing the same game that Dis
reali, tn o years later, played in England.
He went to bed one night a confirmed
conservative; he got up the next morn
ing a radical Liberal, and astonished the
country by declaring for manhood suf-
frage, The Liberals stammered and hssi-
tated, Just as Gladstone and Bright did
when, after Disraeli had defeated them
in their project of giving the suffrage to
every man who paid s6 year rental, he
threw in their teeth proposition to be-
stew it upon every man vino paid even
sixpence rental. For mere shame's sake
they accepted the proffered boon, Just as
the German Liberals did. In Germany,
where every man thus suddenly became
voter, the new constituencies were in
vited to exercise their power in various
tempting ways All was done at a jump
The professors in the high schools
and universities taught fine>spun
theories concerning natural rights; the
control of employers over their workmen
was abolished. The establishment of
joint-stoek companies ard other associa-
tiOns was emancipated from government
tai supervision; all was made ready for
a general social reform" The war
with France came. 1t ended in an in
toxieating victory and in the govern
ment finding itself in possession of five
millions of francs which it really did
not know what to do with. In pure
wantonness, as it seemed, the govern
ment took the money and cast it reck-
lessly all over the country. Everyone
scrambled for it, and everyone, directly
or indirectly, got his share. The wages
of workmen went up to 1915 q day.
where they used to be 81 25 every thing
else advanced in proportion; the country
lost its head, and tor a season the widest
speculatiOns were the rage The re-
action from this was inevitable, but the
government fastened and aggravated it
by a most criminal blunder. They de-
mOnetized the silver coin CT the country
and by single stroke of the pen took
out of the hands of the people one-hali
| of their available medium of exchange.
\ The contraction was felt everywhere,
and a commercial and industrial paraly-
/ sis set in that has lasted five years, and
| is now as severe as ever. The man
/ Hoedel, who shot at the emperor the
| other day, said he did so IN order to call
attention to the misery of the working
people. During this period of suffering
and it has lasted from 1873 until now
the high end low teachers of socialism
have been busy. 1t is not st all necessary
to tall foulot these teachers and to berate
them or their disciples. They are al
honest enough. The academy profess.
ors. comfortable themselves, saw that
society was cut of joint They searched
for causes, as a chemist searches fol
poisons, found them and proposed anti
detes and prophylactics. The working
classes, not at ali comfortable, but with
that reverence for science that is innate
in the German breast, listened to these
teachers; pondered upon their theories
aud enlarged them. There were systems
for reforming all abuses--the property
laws were to be set right; the State the
idol that Bismarck set up in the place oil
God--was to be like god in its omnipo.
tence and omnipresence; it was to see
that every man had work and wages
that none had too little and none toe
much. In every class of society these
ideas prevail; they are to be found even
in the official reports of government
clerks and secretaries. Suddenly alarm,
ed by the attempt of Hoedel--or, what i.
more probable, using that as pretext-
the government attempts to induce par
Lament to pass laws for the suppression
of the expression of opinions that are
everywhere entertained its request /,
almost contemptuously rejected, and il
contents itself with a few petty press
prosecutions.
Whence does all this tend ? Towards
a republic most probably. 1t should sur
prise no one if, alter the death of The
emperor and of Bismarck, Germany.
perhaps through bloody struggle arr
perhaps by q peaceful revolution should
transform herself into a democracy
There Is the example of France to temp
her; and the example is one that appeal
very strongly IS well to the sympatheti,
as TO the scientific side of the German
mind. i New York Graphic.
A Cure for Drunkenness,