Morning journal and courier., 1883-01-19
German Socialists.


 Herbert Tuttle in Harpers Magazine for February It need scarcely be said that with few ex captions the leaders of this party are in re spect to birth and education no better thar the rank and file. Lassalle, the founder wa indeed man of culture and erudition. Car Marx, who has long lived in London, is tn, author of treatise on Capital" whicl taxes the brain and extorts the respect of tht most learned professors. But in general tht Socialist Deputies are men of humble origin and their native talents have been developed only by such education as they have beer able to give themselves. Their occupations attest this truth. Bebel is turner in wood Most, a book binder; Fritsche, & cigar maker Hasenclever, a weaver; and nearly all the others are engaged in the trades or the lower professions. Some of them now fig ure, indeed, as literary men," but this only means that they have turned their attention to editing the Socialist press, writing Social ist pamphlets and conducting generally the Socialist propaganda Dreary reading, those fanatic and blood-thirsty brochuresl Mis- chievous enough their missionary labors ever in America, which Fritsche was lately enlight ening in behalf of the party of assassination and anarchy. Fruitless and silly their parli amentary demonstrations. And yet they have in the Diet one man of first rate talent, whose career would excite surprise even in a more democratic country than Germany.
 
 His official biography shows the nature of the obstacles that he has had to surmount. He was born at Cologne in 184O, and his only education was received in the village school of Brauweiler and the Sunday school at WetzIar. Then, having learned his trade, he travelled as journeyman pretty well over South Germany and Austria, finally locating at Leipsic, where he has since lived. The genius and dazzling career of Lassalle early captivated his mind. Since 1862 he has been necessarily active in the Socialist movement, organizing local unions, and speaking often in a strain of fervid and fluent Reclamation Very soon he became the most popular club orator in Germany, and now a Deputy he easily leads his party on the floor of the Diet But his parliamentary labors are often interrupted by the police and the courts At least half his time in recent years has been passed within prison or fortress walls. Yet in spite of the natural and artificial difficult ties thus thrown in his way since his birth he controls larger constituency than any other Deputy in the House; is a successful parlia- mentary speaker, and if not for his cause, at least for his sincerity, commands certain feeling of sympathy and respect from men of the most opposite political principles. There is no general rush for the restaurant when Bebel begins to speak. An agitator, and in one sense 8 revolutionist, his ha- raneues have certain undeniable tincture of bombast and pIatitude, but these are kept by him under fairly successful control. and as @ rule he argues his case like practiced dia- iectician Bismarck once observed that if he had ever had the honor of visit from Bebel, and an opportunity frankly to discuss with him the complaints of his clients, he would easily have come to terms with him This may indeed be doubted. But the meaning of the Prince was that while the other Socialists were loud and empty declaimers, Bebel seemed to have real grievance, which he presented in tangible and intelligible form. Indeed, he has once or twice crossed swords not unsuccessfully with the Chancellor him. self. s'You constantly prate," he says, t'of your solicitude for the workingman You introduce protection, benevolent insurance schemes, and the like, all for the benefit of the poorer producing classes. This is class legislation and-Socialism. Why, then, do you throw us in chains for trying to do the same thing-that is, elevate the proletariat in our way?" Bebel's way is restless though peaceful agitation and the ballot But his allies and followers are less mode rate, and the foreign observer, while recog- mixing the sincerity and the singular talent of Rebel, must therefore condemn course which produces Nobilings and Hodels, and would, if successful, result in the most de- plorable social anarchy. @