The Labor enquirer., 1884-03-22
THE MHOLY ALLIANCE.n

attempting to combine together for the
suppression of the doctrines of liberty
and equal rights. The powers of Europe,
as a natural sentiment of their ruling
passion, are bitterly opposed 10 each
other, and at all times, save one, are
ready and watchful of an opportunity to
stab each other in the back. The excep-
ton is when the oppressed people of
two or more nations begin to draw to-
gether in sympathy, and to counsel for
their mutual release from tyranny and
despotism.
So long as the people of these slave
pens are accomplishing, so long as they
] will drudge that their rulers may revel
in idleness and luxury, so long as they
will quietly submit to the tyrannical rule
of few powerful aristocrats, the gov
ernments of the various countries have
time to devote to their jealousies and
their plans for conquests oyer each other.
So long do they give over their attention
| to schemes and connivances for the pur-
pose of diminishing the domain and
power of rival But as soon as the
people, the producers, the life and flower
of the nations show feeling of unrest,
disposition to take exceptions to the
systems of spoliation and tyranny which
deprives them of their rights; when they
display a disposition to refuse to longer
be used as the weapons with which self
ishness, greed and ambition may fight
its unnatural battles, then these aristo-
cratic foes mask their hatred for each
other and pool their issues for the main
tenance of the kindred systems which
permit and uphold their power to contest
with each other for supremacy of domi-
nation. jealousy and envy are, for the
time forgotten, or hidden from view, and
the subjection of the people is made the
common cause upon which the despotism,
heartlessness, cunning and cruelty of the
different slave-drivers unite.
History furnishes ample proof of the
| truth of these statements, and the won
der is that any of the people need further
testimony. 1t would seem that this
action of the rulers of the poor would
teach them that, as their masters resort
to uncongenial combination to keep
them in slavery, it behooves tn I'm to
combine together for their freedom.
The Internationalist has learned this
lesson, and he asks the thoughtful con-
sideration of every proletarian in the
world to the abundance of testimony he
brings forward.
The last step made towardsa combined
suppression of the people by the rulers
of Europe was that announced few
days since IN which rulers who have
been at daggers points, have attempted
to reform the "holy alliance" for the
putting down of Socialistlc ideas. Social
ism, which threatens the overthrow of
despotic and autocratic rule in the coun-
tries of Europe, has spread with a won
derful rapidity during the last few years,
and, as it educates the people to an un-
derstanding of their natural rights, and
threatens the overthrow of the usurpers
of their God-giyen prerogatives-who
have been secured within the wall of ig-
norance they have maintained around
the.nselves-its death becomes the com
mon cause of the tyrants of all nations.
Hence the attempt to form an alliance
for that purpose.
Bismarck, year or so since, knowing
the growth of Socialism in Germany;
thought to stem the ude and subvert its
channel by the use of his accredited
diplomatic powers, and pretended to be
in partial sympathy with a movement
which he had tried, by all means, to kill
from its infancy He either over-esti-
mated his own ability or under estimated
the amount of intelligence with which
his subjects had become possessed
through the teachings of Socialism. At
any rate he has now discovered that Chi
canery and duplicity are inadequate to
bar the progress Of, ideas which contain
in them the spirit Of Justice, Truth and
Humanity He has, therefore, offered to
bury the hatchet and smoke a pipe of
temporary peace with his rival despots
and join hands in a campaign of
butchery and Punishment. The cases Of
all are somewhat similar.
But Little Swiss" refuses to become a
part of the unnoly compact, and the
game seems blocked. Switzerland has
said to the other powers, that Under her
form of government it is not necessary
that such extreme steps should be taken
to put down "lawlessness." That is, that
] If Socialism is what Bismarck and the
] other potentates represent it, Switzer-
land has simple civil laws to deal with
it and power to execute the law Social
ism has stronger proportionate follow.
ing in Switzerland than in any other
country, and the wholesome benefits Of
its doctrines are seen in the refusal OF
the government to attempt its suppress
sion under the false pretense that it tends
to murder and pillage.
/ The proposers of the confederation re.