The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-21
BEAUTIES OF SOCIALISM.
The Existing SYSTEM of Society TO Be SET
Aside and the Good Things Passed Around.

NEW York. Sept. 20.-Nearly 5000 people
crowded into Cooper Union Hall to ,jgnt to hear
the prominent Socialist leaders, DR. Aveline.
Mrs. Aveling and Herr Liebknecht who were 20
expound their doctrines to the public for
the first time in this country. Sixty DO
lice were in the hall to maintain order.
Herr Wilhelm Liebknecht, of the German Reich
stag, and the German Socialist leader, was the
first speaker. He spoke for over an hour giving
in detail his socialistic theories He repudiated
all anarchical sentiments, but he added that
he had carefully followed the course
of the trial of the Chicago Anarchists,
and was convinced that they were innocent
of the crimes charged against them. He asserted
that the condemned men neither threw the bomb
nor melted the riot. They should have new
trial. and he. for one, would work to create
sentiment which should compel it to be granted.
''The red spectre" he said, rs requisite OF
modern government 1t was used away
back in Bonaparte's time to frighten
the middle classes but persecution
through anti-social laws must fail to stamp out
socialism. If socialism could be choked,
then nlhilism would follow. We are fighting
against the blood and iron system of Bismarck
and his miaons. His brute force will be over.
come Brute force always fails in the end. We
believe that we can overcome our enemies
through peaceful MEANS but we also believe that
force used to resist injustice has a mission and
is right" Herr Liebknecht was loudly applauded.
The next speaker was Mrs. Avelng, who re-
celved a perfect ovation, not only as personal
compliment but tribute due to the
daughter of Karl Marx, the father OF
modern socialism She is a slender
woman of medium height, and made
good appearance, although dressed rather oddly.
She wore an Irish poplin gown of brownish
brick dust red. hanging loose from her shoulders,
and gathered up at the waist, trimmed with
broad collar of Irish lace, and cuffs to match,
The dress was high in the neck, and had train.
She wore her hair in antique style, hanging
over her forehead in dark. curly masses, and
gathered up in a filet Mrs. Aveling said
1.-THE strength of our movement is shown by the
attention our visit is receiving from the capital
istic press. Tbs economic condition of the
workingmen of America is identical with that OF
European workingmen; there is the same mad
competition, the same landlordism, and also the
same misery aud starvation The women are
driving the men out of your factories, because
they are cheaper; then the children drive the
women out, and finally. they must also give
place to machinery. You must not
condemn socialism because it comes from
Germany; you must simply ask If its doctrines
are true This movement cannot be stopped.
The only thing that can be done is to make its
coming thing of death and terror instead of be-
ing peaceable and quiet-and that can he DONE
Socialism does not mean the abolition OF
property, but the giving of property
to those who have it not, to take it from the
handful of robbers who would monopolize it. and
give it to the people who produce it. We don't
want change in class tyranny, as has been
serted, bat abolition of all class of tyranny.
There are three things to which you must at
tend-agtation, education and organization.
The revolution does not mean the cutting off of
heads If you work together"
DR.. Edward Aveling followed his wife. he
said: There are only two classes in society to-
day, although in England they reckon six or
eight-the royal family, the aristocracy. upper
middle class middle lower-middle. working and
pauper class. Over here it is said there is bul
class-freemen [derisive laughter. but as
matter of fact, two classes exist-the workers and
the possessors They perfectly distinct, and
there is an inevitable antagonism between
them, which the coming revolution will do
away with. Society at present is based upon
labor that is not paid for. You work ten hours
and you receive wages for three. If you re-
ceived wages for ten, there would be
capitalists, President
no priest kings no possessing
clnss. We would have the people own
all the land and all machinery which enablea the j.
ing for it; there will be no possibility Of any
more Goulds or Vanderbilts. Kisses. I urge
you to go into politics, but only as workingmen.
A beginning has been made by the Knights Of
Labor and the labor unions, but you must 60
into politics directly as Socialists"
Cabegrams of sympathy with the social dem
ocratic party of Germany, and the socialistic
league of England, were sent.