Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1881-04-01
THE sOCLALLSTTC MOTEMENT IN
GERMANY

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A variety of causes combine to render the
German Empire the hot-bed of the most adj
yanced socialstic discussion of the pres
ent day. Even Genava, for so long the cen
tire of agitation on this subject, has yielded
her claims TO those of Berlin, and Rochefort
and Others Of France WELD but feeble
influence in the ranks of the brotherhood
when compared with the great leaders of
German socialism.
In Germany, more than in any other
country on the continent, the Expressive
laws of the government, the practical de-
NAL Of the rights of public meetings and
public discussion of political affairs by the
working men, Joined with the underhand
suspension of laws passed for the benefit of
the middle and lower classes have silently
but steadily fostered the growth of a social
istic body of thinking men who are max
ing their influence powerfully felt, and as
powerfully dreaded in the Empire.
In Germany alone are the socialistic theo-
rists sufficiently educated and sufficiently
trained in military affairs 10 cause well
grounded alarm. The universal conscrip-
ton is yearly giving an army education to
thousands Of able bodied citizens who are
inwardly chatting under the political and
social condition of affairs, and who return
to their homes after the term of their mill
tary service is completed with the knowl-
edge that a million of their countrymen,
equally well trained in the use of arms,
hold the same opinions as their own and
only await favorable opportunity Of show
ing their strength. That the social demo
Gratis are fully organized is seen from their
recent assertion of power at the polls. At
the last general election the party cast 600-
600 votes in Hamburg, their candidate polled
twice as many votes as his two competitors,
both of whom were openly and avowed OPP
ponents of socialism.
The socialistic revolt in Germany has been
defined ms "the revolt of industrialism against
mitairism," the protest of the people against
q class of hereditary officials and imperial
bureaucrats whom they have learned to hate
more than a foreign foe. The German So
cialists are endeavoring TO do away with
what they consider the tyranny OF capital,
power which one of their leaders has de-
nominated as the modern incarnation of the
slave driver without the slave drivers inter-
est in the life of his property. They look
upon the vast accumulation ofindividual cap
ital as detrimental to the best interest of the
people, and believe that the State OF NUM-
cipality should be the sole capitalist invest
ing its means for the common benefit. They
political and Utopia where self-interest shall
be merged into desire for the common
welfare where each individual shall use his
powers for the benefit of his fellows and
suit in which the full development of human
energies shall be the sole object and general
advantage the common end.
This is the glowing vision which late
writer of conspicuous prominence holds up
to the gaze of the world as the ultimate
attainment of German socialism. For the
present, the leaders are prepared TO adm
that the realization of this vision is not pos
sible. Society is not yet ready to attain t.
this lofty conception of its right and priv
lege. The thoughtful minds in the party arr
therefore deyoting their energies to counter
act the policy Of Capitalization in the En-
pire, TO contend for individual liberty anC
rights Of the working classes and to insis
upon due respect being paid the munici
palities of the government. The conscrip
ton still goes on, the standing army is in
creased, rigid laws of terrorism are enacted
and while guarding against foreign foe h
is only providing the means for domestic
revolution. Not three months ago a social
stic deputy in the German Reichstag boldly
avowed that failing to modify the law
which had been enacted TO crush them TO
the next six years they must try force
German socialism is daily completing its or
ganization, and within the next decade i
likely To make itself lelt with powe
which viii fall nothing short of revolution
Because a terrible case of trichnosis ha
occurred in New Jersey, don't let any hast,