Omaha daily bee., 1883-03-19
KARL MARX AND socialism.

KARL MARX AND SOCIALISM
For nearly fifteen years Karl Marx,
the philosopher Of modern socialism
and the founder Of the international
has almost disappeared from public
notice. Interest In the career ant
opinions Of one of the most remark
able figure of the century ts excited
afresh by the news Of his death which
took place In London on Thursday
Perhaps no one man, II we except hi,
distinguished pupil Lssalle, Is respon'
sible to the same degree as Marx fol
the social revolution which have aglta.
ted Europe for the past thirty years.
he wal the brains of modern socialism.
A man of ideas, he possessed the
power Of organizing, Joined to a true
missionary spirit which carried his
theories Into every country of the
continent, awoke discussion and raised
up apostles to disseminate the germ Of
social reform. Born at Cologne In
1918, and educated In two Of the
leading German universities, he en-
tered upon his work at the period
when al. Europe was vibrating with
the demand Of an oppressed
people for constitutional government.
Driven from Germany as a dangerous
and radical editorial writer on political
subjects, he fsd to Paris where he
devoted his attention for several years
to the study of economical questions,
and especially to an investigation Of
the causes of the wrongs from which
society suffered. Men of Ideas are
always dangerous to tyrants and Marx
was driven out of France at the re.
quest Of the Prussian government and
refuge In Belgium. Here he
developed his theory Of communism or
the government of societyin oommunes
small aggregation Of individuals
whose property should be more equal.
ly distributed and the rewards of Ia.
Dor divided more impsrtially among
the wealth producers. MARKS idea
was a purely philosophical theory, de.
veloped With great power and based
a profound and searching investi-
cation Of economical laws. The
learned and brilliant pamphlets
Of the great social agitator found
willing readers. In Germany
and France q score of pupils
rapidly attached themselves to
the new theory ef socialism. Every
university soon boasted of its little
band Of disciples each searching for q
further development OF . theory
whose aim was the amelloration of
society joined to political liberty for
the individual. Socialism o be-
came divided into three groups which
still exist, the radical or revolutionary
party, the moderates and the oonser-
vatives, the last, in Germany taking
the name of socialists of the chair
from the fact that Its leaders all hold
seats a. professors In the great univer-
stiles.
1t was Karl MARKS chief glory that
he recognized clearly that socialism
could never become effective in regen-
Grating society so long Is 1t remained
q mere speculative theory. Aoccrd'
ingly, no bent all his energies towards
impregnating the masses with his new
doctrines. Realizing that the wsr
who held society In subsection were
not likely to be the apostles Of the
new sociology, he began q
system Of organisation among
the workingmen and trade unions
In London which spread with
great rapidly on the continent. In
l847 the Communicate party was
formed. In 1848 when the revolu.
ton In Germany seemed to promise
the dawn Of personal liberty, Marx
returned to Cologne and resumed his
editorial duties. Exiled Q second
time, Imprisoned In Paris and pro
acribed In every continental monarchy
he returned In 40 10 London where
he has since resided. Founding tn
Internationale In 1864 he direotet
Its councils until 1872 when he wa
deposed from the seoretaryship ct tn
congress of the Hague, because Of hi
too conservative Views.
Karl Marx was q philosopher, q re
former and an enthusiast. He neve
was an anarchist. His theory cor
templated the regeneration of soclet
by q peaceful revolution inside Of 81
ciety itself, by the dissemination
intelligence concerning the wront
under which the masses suffered, b
! the diffusion Of q knowledge Of 90
rected sociAlity, and by an organic
ton powerful enough to put sue
theories Of sooialistio reform Into pra
tical operation. To Marx the ideal
4 socialism In politics wasrepublioanisu
In economics, communism. The r
form In the line Of constitutional 60
eminent which the people Of half
Q score Of European monarohies he,
o wrested from their rulers have be,
a