The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1878-08-22
SOCIALISM IN GERMANY.
The Recent Origin Of . Formidable 20.
litical Movement.
from the Pail Mali Gazette

from the Pail Mali Gazette-l
The Socialist movement In Germany Is
Of very recent origin. 1t was started by
Ferdinand Lassalle fifteen years ago. Las
sale was one Of the most remarkable poit-
cal agitators Of the present century. He
was bonn in 1925, and when mere youth
produced profound impression on Alex
andeI Won Humboldt and Heine- The for
mer called him the miraculous child; and
the latter, in a letter to Vanhaean Won
Ense, predicted for him a splendid career.
Long before he came forward as the cham
pion OF the working classes he was known
as a philosophic writer Of genuine distinc-
ton. His book on Heraclitus is one Of the
most learned, ingenious, and profound
produced by the Hegelian school, and his
system Of acquired rights" although not
so important as supposed, is acknowledged
TO be a work Of vast research and pene-
trating thought. He did not begin 10 be
widely known as politician until ls62. In
the spring Of that year he addressed
meeting Of Berlin wOrkmen, aftervaTd pub
fishing the speech as pamphlet, entitled
The Workmens Programme" II was not
so much a statement Of opinion as
rhapsody in anticipation OF a new world.
After the learned manner Of a German
but with the fire and enthusi-
asm Of q devotee. he traced the whole
course OF modern history with view To
prove that the future belongs to the work
n e class. He was tried for melting the
mob to rebellion and was ultimately con-
tOa months Imprisonment, a pen
atty which had only the effect Of intensity
ing his zeal and bringing his name promi-
nently before the nation. Appealed to Tor
counsel by a workmenS Association in
Leipzig, he sent them an Open Answer"
which has still almost the authority Of a
sacred writing among the party or the sect
he founded. 1t is a small pamphlet, but
being written with great force and lucidity,
and bearing on every page the stamp Of
passionate earneStness, IL could not fail To
90 straight to the mark at which its author
aimed. One Of its main propositions Is
that under existing social conditions wages
can never permanently rise above the point
which Is necessary for the bare existence
Of the workman and his family. II, there
fore, these conditions are maintained, the
working class has nothing to look forward
to but poverty and misery. Lassalle's
remedy is that wOrkingmen should form
themselves into productive associations,
and that the State should advance them
sufficient capital to enable them to start
with an assurance OF success. He ex-
presses unbOunded faith In this plan, and
has only words Of scorn and lOathing for
those who urge that the business Of the
State is merely to defend the person and
property OF the individual. 1t is" he
says, the peculiar task and vocation Of
the State to smooth the way for the great
forward movements Of humanity. That is
its mission; for that it EXISTS, and it has
always worked, and must continue to work,
towards this end" We're the State to act
in the manner he indicates, there would be
no longer u conflict between capital and
labor, for both would be in the same hands,
and the workman would obtain the full
product Of his energies.
This manifesto was followed up by a
speech addressed to vast meeting OF
wOrkmen in Leipzig. Lassalle was man
Of extraordinary vanity and ambition; but
these are qualities not seriously resented
by. the multitude, and he had in his favor
his literary fame. comparative youth, and
power as an orator. He was
rich, aud could not, therefore, be supposed
to have vulgarly selfish motives, and il
there Is any truth In the philosophy Of
clothes, even his tailor may have contri-
buted to his success, for he was something
OF a dandy and would not condescend Ia
wear q coat that had not come from Paris.
From Leipzig he proceeded To Frank -oat,
and from thence to the leading towns Of
the Rhineland; and everywhere he was re-
ceived with an enthusiasm that has, per
haps, never been paralleled in the political
history Of Germany. As the agitation adj
vanced, his tone became more and more
hostile to the richer classes: he WAS es-
peciaily vehement in his attacks on the
Liberal party, and denounced the press in
terms. Heir Won Bismarck,
far from attempting toput him down, was
To give lin secret encourage
hent; and it is a remarkable fact that the
newspapers professed Ia find
in his demands much that was just and
reasonable. 1t seems to have occurred Ia
the Premier and his supporters that some
thing might be gained by detaching the
working classes from the Liberals. They
were not aware OF the strength Of the
forces which were being rapidly organized.
Lassalle was killed in a duel at the age
OF 81, in 1864; but he he had already
formed a powerful party. II was by and
by split up into two sections Nothwith-
standing his loathing Of the present rela-
lions between capital and labor, he had
never counseled an appeal to force, and he
was an ardent patriot. The cause Of Ger
man unity had no more jealous advocate
thanhe. and 1t was essential to the success
u his scheme that the State, while resting
on a popular basis, should be thoroughly
A number Of his adherents
continued to uphold these principles, but
others, associating themselves rather with
Karl Marx than with Lassaile, soon adopt
ed a more radical programme. They
secuted the Idle that men owe allegiance Ia
A special country, proclaiming that work
ing man has public duties only 10 his own
class; and they urged that the lawful
means for realizing the Socialistic ideal are