The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1882-04-09
Sham Socialism.

In the course OF a vigorous attack on Bis
MARcK's reactionary policy In the Nineteenth
Century, Mr.. KARL BLIND takes occasion TO
express his opinion Of the famous apostle Of
German socialism, FERDINAND LAssALLR.
He does not hesitate to place the great So
cialist agtator in the same category with
Chaplain SToCKER, denouncing him rs an i'm
poster, q charlatan, mock Messiah, who, il
not actually in BIsMARCK's pay, was in his
service, and whose special mission was to
entrap German workingmen into a sort of
Catilinian conspiracy with the court and
aristocracy against the liberalism Of the
middle classes. This is a widely different
view OF LAssALLE from that current on
this side of tho Atlantic; but, however para
doxical, it must be treated with respect,
for the writer Is an able, eminent, and
uncompromising rcvolutionst, the sincerity
Of whose republican convictions has not
been compromised by private interviews
with BISMARCK and the secret countcnancc
OF the Prussian authorities, but is attested
by a long and honorable exile.
The recent extraordinary rescript by which
the EmperorKing repudiatcs the funda-
mental principle Of the Piussian Constitu-
ton, and asserts his divine and indefcasible
right to rule wrongly, leads Mr.. BLIND to
cnumerate several points Of strong resem-
blance between the existing political s.ua-
lion in Germany and that exhibited in Prus-
STA in 1869. Then, as now, BISMARCK had
seen reason to regret the concessions made
to the national cutlery for sclf-govcrnmcnt,
and was casting about for pretexts to rctract
or cvadc them. At that time the working of
st
tested in the proceedings Of the Land,ag,
proved well nigh as announcement and dis
tasteful to the selfwilled Minister as are the
powers now exercised by tho Rechstag under
tho organic law OF the German empire,
Then, as now, the chief objects Of fear and de-
tcstation In the eyes OF BISMARCK were the
advanced liberals, who ultimately were COM
PEELED to assume the distinctive name Of Pro-
grcSSists, lest men should coniound them
with such sham liberals as BENNIGSEN. II
was to weaken the political influence OF thesc
advanced liberals, regarded MS the foremost
champions OF liberty in Prussia, and the true
heirs OF the German rcvolutionists Of lSis
that BISMARCK In 1862 encouraged the Social
list movement of LAssALLE, just as he now, In
the interest of absolutist and military rcnc-
ism organized by Chaplain SroCKER, and
aims to scduce work.ngmnn in the cities
and manufacturing towns by the profTcr OF
State help in divers forms, including his
wel-known Life and Accident Insurance bill
The design OF BISMARCK in furthering this
| insincero alliance between the two extremes
Of soclcty--a trick which, as Mr.. BLIND re.
marks, IL as old ns tyranny. being, in fact
the iavorltc cxpedicnt Of petty despots III
Greek citcs-is sufficiently obvious; but Mr.
BLIND maintains TINT the part taken by
LAssALLE wac equally discrcditablc.
| Long before the lattcr's occult dealings
| with King WILLIAMS dospotic Minister had
been revealed by BISMARCK himself, Mr.
BLIND tells us that he himself had publicly
accused LASsALLE Of being an accomplicc
in the impending coup dttm policy This he
did in an address TO German workiugneI
published in 1862. No ono, he thinks, whr
| will read carefully LAssALLE'S writings and
| speeches can avoid CO ming to tho same con,
| ciusion. Compliments, il seems, were al,
| dressed in them to "a certain profound and
subtle statcemnu," who was cYtDllcd at the
expense of the "Liboral spoutoIs OF fin,
| talk" A hope founded on assorted
knowledge was expressed that the Prus.
| sian Constitution Of 1850 would be
oveNhrown by this snne subtle states
man, and TINT universal suffrage would bC
proclaimed BY royal ordinance" "On that
day" said LAssALLE "on which the King Is
| put on trial for ovcrllrowing the CUnstitu