The Labor enquirer., 1885-01-17

Aaosniic party anu He 6ucceeQeQ 80 well
in gaining influence over this body that
they very nearly came to terms with the
Prussian Government.
Such prospect greatly alarmed Lieb-
knecht and Bebel. A special workmen,s
congress was convoked and held at Nu-
remberg in 1858, under the presidency
of Bebel. As manifestation Of Repub-
lican opinions, and protest against any
Ministerial alliance, the congress ad-
hered to the international, which had
met at Lausanne the previous year and
affirmed the principle that the eco
nomical and political emancipation OF
the working classes were inseparably
connected. The next year the German
workmen went step further. At Eisen-
arch, congress 800 delegates. represent
ing about 10000 Socialists, adopted the
Collectiyirt programme which still
governs the party. Then ensued the
Franco German war. The Socialists lost
no opportunity of protesting against the
annexation Of Al.ace-Lorraine 1t will
also be remembered how Liebknecht
and Bebel proclaimed their approval Of
the acts of the Commune, and defied the
members of the Reichstag to accept the
responsibility. before history, of the
massacres perpetrated by the Versailles
troops in the streets of Paris. The fury
that these words occasioned was so great
that Bebel would have been torn 70
pieces had not Mende drawn his revol-
yer to protect him.
The attitude of the Socialists now led
to acts of suppression. The members
of the central committee, which met at
Brunswick, were arrested and conveyed
to the fortress, and many other leaders
were imprisoned. But this only seemed
to strengthen the party, The very pop.
ularity arising from persecution helped
to efface minor differences; and at the
congress of Gotha, held in 1875, the
party formed by Lassalle WAS defnitive
ly united to the ColIectivists, led by
Liebknecht, Bebel, and, indirectly, by
Karl Marx. The Communist programme
was then adopted by both sides, and it
was for this declaration of principles
that the Socialists voted at the last elec-
TONS, The same document has been
upheld throughout.
Against so formidable an alliance,
advocating views of such revolutionary
nature, Prince Bismark declared himself
powerless, unless the Socialists were
outlawed. Taken at his word, Liberals
and Catholics coalesced to pass the So.
cialist law which was brought into oper-
atien in-4l.87S lyFstsszb bis enactsgsuts sisu
spite of its Draconian character, served
at best, but as temporary check, and
now the Socialists have shown them
selves stronger than ever. With twenty
four members in the Reichstag they can
hope occasionally to hold the balance OF
power, and are legally qualified to into
duce bills. This great success has been
achieved without surrendering any part
of the revolutionary programme drawn
up at Gotha, and of course puts the pos
sibility of compromise out Of the ques-
ton. The object steadily held in view
is Communism-that is to say, the ma
tionalization of the land, of the rail-
ways, mines, factories, ships, machines,
in fact all the implements.of production,
Every one would thus be compelled to
work; no rich classes, living in idleness,
could be tolerated; money, if possible,
might be abolished and, in any case,
the power of hording or capitalizing
money rendered illegal. y Every one
would be called upon to work to the best
| of his ability. 1t is only after the ne
eessIties for healthy and rational life
had been provided for every living per-
son that society would be allowed to
work to secure ease and then luxury.
None but the producers themselves can
be entrusted to realize such scheme.
Thus the principle proclaimed by the
International in 1867 is re-echoed
throughout Germany to-day by more
than half million electors. With sc
large number of men advocating en-
phatically opinions of so revolutionary
nature, the prospect, 4 we repeat, of 8
peaceful settlement is not very prom.
ising; and the fact, pointed out in the
first instance, that Socialism is strongest
in strategical centers of the Empire, il
therefore of ominous import.
! have cut out the above from a Lon
don paper and send it on because it con-
tains deal of interesting and, to great
extent, accurate information. l have
added nothing to it, but have cut on
some stupid bits which need not be
printed, as they are not worth. explain.
| ing. The article is not signed, but Ii
4 very likely written by some luke-warm
] or pseudo Socialist. The German cleo.
tions have, as tar as I can judge, been toe
/ much talked about. The number o
votes given for Socialist candidates can
not represent 80 many Socialists else
they are very poor ones, L they are Sc
strong and will only vote. But beneath
all parliamentary show there is an un
mistakably strong Socialist feeling II
Germany-whlch we will hear abou