The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-12-19
NEW LIFE IN OLD EUROPE.


A Few of tho Views of John swinton
During His Recent Tour Abroad.
Especial Correspondence
In the course Of my years roaming
ever several countries of Europe since
November last got some views of life
and other things there that few Ameri-
can sightseers are ever likely to look for.
1t is safe to say that most of our tourists,
after spending short time abroad, see
ing France, Italy, Germany or England,
are apt to tell us of the Eiffel tower and
other glittering shows in Paris, or of the
Coliseum and other wonderful relics in
Rome, or Of Windsor Castle and other
massive fabrics in London.
Now 1, too, when in Europe saw all
these things, beside hundreds of others
not less attractive or less suggestive, yet
shall say nothing about them here.
But while abroad and going to one
country after another, from the Mediter-
ranean to the North sea, also took oc-
casion to study a few of the new feat
ures and ideas of the times that were
even more interesting to me than those
things with which all American tourists
in Europe are familiar. I took views
| and made studies Of the life of the peo-
pie, common and uncommon, from the
upper world to the under world, from
the foreground to the background. I
surveyed the surface and sounded the
depths from Italy to Scotland.
What, then, did I learn there? What
did see in Italy, France, Switzerland,
England and Scotland? Many things
beside those that the New York papers
had told me of-novel shows, surprising
| sights, doleful scenes, hopeful signs.
Here, at this time, shall refer only to
the thing which struck me most, and
that was the evidence of resurgent life
now to be found among the masses Of
all the countries through which / wan
dered in search of that life for myself.
New ideas are in the air there, new
movements are advancing, and the way
| is being prepared for social and indus
trial changes that will surely promote
the welfare of the working millions.
found this resurgent life even in old
| Italy, ay, in Rome, tho seven hilled
capital of the Caesars, the popes and the
new rulers of the modern realm. ] found
| it in the fostering quarters of the city
/ and among the castaways, as well as in
the higher quarters and among their
denizens, with many of whom held
intercourse. saw it in popular assem-
blages, in the workshops of the toilers,
in hundred projects of which became
aware, and in the papers of liberation.
heard ideas that surprised me, and
predictions or aspirations that seemed
beyond realization in our times be-
came convinced, after three months of
residence and research in Rome, that the
progressive spirit now appearing among
| the masses there must yet yield fruit
unlike any that has ever grown in the
soil of old Italy. That which I found
in Rome found afterward in the other
Italian cities along my course.
| In France / found the resurgent life
from Paris to Marseilles. The .ssocial
question is up there, as it has been for
century past, and the peasantry of the
rural communes as well as the prole-
! tariat of the cities are becoming famil-
lar with it. / feel it safe to say after
thrice visiting France that the French
working masses will not forever tolerate
system under which they do not enjoy
their natural rights. What do they
want? They want the inheritance that
| belongs to them and the full measure of
the earnings of their work.
In England, as in. the other countries
here spoken of, took time to survey the
ways of life and study the currents of
thought among people of all social
grades. found that the English mind
is advancing in a hopeful way. There
is spirit of inquiry in regard to that
condition of society which is fraught
with evils and dangers that cannot be
overlooked. and with which neither
benevolence nor legislation has yet been
able to cope. found that the thinkers
are perplexed over it, that the workers
are giving thought to it, and that even
the squalid hordes of London and other
cities are beginning to take heed of it
and to have their own way of thinking
about it. There are unprecedented dem
onstrations in England of the power of
the working classes, who have gigantic
organizations and unite in vast strikes
that are often successful. 1t appeared
to me as though they were laying the
! foundations of new social and indus
trial order there, upon the broad princi-
pies of equity, amity and democracy.
saw that magnificent demonstration of
i the working people of London in Hyde
Park, ON the first Sunday Of last May,
when half million of them stood in
solid array and boldly displayed their
principles and their power. 1t was truly
an impressive array of the hosts Of the dis
inherited; and the reports of the speeches
that could not hear, but afterward
read, gave ample proof that the speak
ers, who had been chosen from their own
ranks, were not backward in proclaim
ing the demands of labor. These de-
mands, which were welcomed with ac-
clamations by the enthusiastic yet order
ly multitudes, were not of violent or
impracticable character, but were of q
kind that sounded a warning to the DOM
mating class in England.
In Scotland / found the resurgent life
even more vigorous than elsewhere; but
have not room to tell what learned
of it.
did not go to Germany, but while in
Italy last spring heard the news that
the workingmen's party of Germany had
then polled a million and a halt votes In
fha a1ackir,no o,,.l l, .. 4 nI<oI,1 :. >..1.- el.