The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-17

early as 1862 the future Prime Ministerof the
empire sought to counteract the radical lead
ers by promoting new movement among
the laborng class. In that year committee
was formed at Leipzig with view Of or
ganzing a congress in which the interests
OF workmen might DO discussed and fur
thered. Tho members Of tho Board we're
presently approached by an individual
from Berlin, named EIcHLER, who repre-
scented himself AZ ali agent Of the Prussian
Government, aud of Graf Won BISMARCK in
particular. This envoy offered on behalf Of
his principals the handsome sum OF $4,000
HORNS TO assist in founding cooperative So
ceties for production. All that he demand
ed In return was the assistance OF the work.
ingmen In the electoral canvass then i'm
pending against the Progrcssist party. As
this emssary was discovered to be men,
Der of the Berlin police, the wOrkingmen de-
clined to pursue the negotiation.
When, IL few months later. LAssALLE APP
peared with his projects OF workmen's pro-
ductive associations, the Prussian Govern
ment again sought TO turn the movement to
account. On this occasion the Countess
HATFIELD, whose intimate relations with
the famous reformcr are well known. ac-
cepted the office Of go-between. But
LAssALLE knew something about the short
memory OF diplomatists, and refused to con-
sent to any interview unless he were d.
rectly invited by the Minister. Finally.
Count BISMARCK had his private secretary
write note making tho appointment,
and during the winter OF 1854 a long
series OF meetings took place be-
ls.N
future Chancellor, sometimes as many
as three OF four week. or so much impor-
lance, moreover, did BISMARCK esteem these
colloquies, that at one time. when LAssALLE
was with him. he declined TO see the Bava-
rian Ambassador, who called about a mat
tor OF prime moment. As for the subjects
discussed at these conferences, IL seems that
the chief points were these-the establish
ment OF universal suffrage and the founda-
ton OF productive societies by state aid.
About the latter point, which, to LAssALLE,
az a State or Government Socialist may
well have seemed the capital condition,
there is said to have been no difficulty. In
deed, Count EULENBURG has acSnowl-
edged that BISMARCK would then have car
ried out LAssALLE's ideas on this head but
for the opposition Of other Minister'S The
parey was broken Off because BISMARCK was
unwilling TO concede unrestricted suffrage
until the Sleswlg- Holstein question was sat
isfactorily solved.
The future Chancellor's close relations
with tho Socialist leaders continued after
LAssALLE's death. A formal covenant was
proposed to FRITscHR, who had been elected
President OF tho General Association OF
asked to lay before the operatives societies
OF Saxony were sufficiently tempting,
namely, the Socialist solution OF tho labor
problem was to be adopted by the State,
and, on the other hand, Germany was to be
consolidated under the headship OF Prussia.
In pursuance Of this compact, BISMARCK
was to receive from FRrrscHE regular re-
ports OF all the meetings, as we'll as copies
of the party journals. Precisely what came
OF this tentative agreement We do not know;
but not long afterward lin 1865 another
eminent Socialist, Herr SCHwEIrZER. was
relea'sed from prison on the understand
ing that he should travel through the coun-
try, speaking to the text, Unity and Lib
erty" which presently became the watch
word Of the National-Liberal party. When
at this epoch n law governing manufactures
was debated In the Prussian Legislature,
motions we're made by BIsMARcK's mouth
piece which obviously obeyed Socialist
inspiration. We may add that when Herr
SCHwEIrlER was prosecuted by n minor
official and condemned TO some months inn
prisonment he formally presented Herr
JoELKR as a substitute TO the Chief OF Po-
lice, and notified his comrade that he would
at all times be received by the Minister Of
the Interior.
This was the state Of things up TO 1871,
when tho workmen found out that they
were made tools Of by the Government, and
thereupon they got rid OF SCHwEITZEB. Still
more recently. however, according to Herr
BEBEL, one OF the Socialist members OF the
Reichstag, like overturss have been made,
and a specific promise made that the work
mems demands for the protection OF labor
should be satisfied, provided they would
abandon their candidates in the Berlin dis
tricts. Another suggestive incident was
cited by the same speaker. 1t seems that
another Socialist Deputy Herr LIEBKNECHT,
had been engaged to edit tine Nord Deutsche
Zetung, but resigned when he found that
journal was privily subsidized. On stating
his reason for withdrawal, he was urged 10
remain. and was assured that he might fill
the columns OF the HeituilO with the most ex-
IRENE opinions OF LAssALLE and MARX.
Such are some OF the specific charges
which tend to demonstrate long and very
intimate relation between the German
Chancellor and that Socialist propaganda
against which he has recently invoked the
severest penalties. We should add that
BISMARCK evinced for almost the first time
in his life, extreme embarrassment in re-
plying TO Herr BEBEL, and that his hearers
were convinced by the nature and temper OF
his answer, by its admissions and prevarica-
tions, that his opponents statements were
well founded.
The Future of Gas.