New-York tribune., 1890-03-30
SOCIALIST SOLDIERS.
oMINOUS SPREAD OF REVOLUTIONARY
IDEAS IN THE GERMAN ARMY.

Nf(
Berlin March IL.
,,pc Of the most remarkable features of the
.ocent election was the manifestation which it
furnished of the alarming spread of Socialism in
Tho army. The masses Of yelling Socialists who
were 10 be seen in every city and town around the
Mailing booths bowling defiance against the Gov
ernment and cXccrations against all those in
authority, were not mere undergrown boys and
~toughs, but duly registered voters, who have
served their first three years with the colors, but
who continue to be carried on the rosters of their
respective regiments as members either OF the
reserve or of the landwehr. AS such, they are
liable to frequent summons to take part III drills
and manoeuvrcs, which occupy several weeks at
a time Indeed. they continue to form part of the
Imperial army until their forty-ffth year, and
remain to all intents and purposes soldiers AS
such their attitude during the elections and thcir
undisguised hostility toward the Government are
Of most ominous significance. Emperor william,
who whatever his other defects, is thoroughly
acquainted with everything that pertains to his
army, certainly aware of this danger when
he determined to attempt to conciliate the move
ment which Prince Bismarck, with all his un-
rivalled experience and enormous powers, had
been powerless to stem The German Empire
owes its origin and its very existence to the
both the Sovereigns and leading statesmen of the
of the fact than they relied on the
perfection of the troops TO maintain respect abroad
and order at home The moment. therefore.
that the army has become imprcgnated with
doctrines which aim at an overthrow Of the
monarchical power and the abolition of all au-
thorty as at present constituted it is clear that
it can longer be trusted to perform its duty
toward the Government, at any rate as far as the
maintenance of order at home Is concerned. For
the Socialist soldiers in uniform cannot be ex-
pcctcd TO obey the orders of their officers to fire
when necessary upon the Socialist soldiers in
civilian dress.
Not only is the army pcrmeated with the
doctrines preached by Herr Bebel and the other
leaders of the Socialist movement, but it even
forms the principal means of propaganda of their
teachings among the people. Every male German
j. compelled to be soldier, and to live IN barracks
for three years. which are just the most i'm
questionable years of his life The recruits from
the rural districts in many cases have never heard
of Socialism. except as being an enemy of Gott
und Na,crland" On joining the colors they are
brought into contact and intimacy with the sodi rs
and conscripts of the larger towns. who deeply
imbued with Socialism. The raw lads from the
country become easy converts to the new gospel
and after their three years service return IN
multitudes to the rural districts, and become
tadiating centres of social democracy throughout
the German Empire. To this fact is undoubtedly
attributed the manifestation Of Socialism IN out
lying country villages where the existence OF the
agitation had not been even so much as suspected
The word Socialism is liable 10 many mis-
constructions and wrong interpretations that IL
may be of interest to draw attention 10 the
avowed aims which these solder-Sociasts and
Socialis-soldlcrs have in view. AT the last great
International Congress Of Socia lists held at COlcn-
hagen, which was composed mainly OF Germans
and attended 10y all the chief leaders Of the move
uent in this country, il was unanimously resolved
that the Socialist party Is not mere paila-
mcutary or political faction but 1t is party that
is openly revolutionary. For the object which 1t
seeks 10 obtain is a complete transformation OF
tie social and economic system, and the attain
ment Of an order Of things entirely Incompatible
with those that now prevail. |, is useless any
longer TO dream of the possibility OF a peaceiI
solution of the question" Another resolution
which was likewise unanimously adopted, CON
cludes with the following words Ana since
the classes now invested with power Will not iai
10 invoke the assistance of the army, the ponce
the law and the Church. and Will unite al! 'heli
forces to crush us, it is our duty to prepare III
every way for the final battle for the lneVltaD4e
revolution. I, ..
Among The minor events Of the past week may
be mentioned the trial Of the assallant OF 1olohei
Count Hue. the military attache OF the iIJi iIoITl
Embassy. The matter has caused a % eI, iaVi1
amount of bad blood. For whereas the assaui.
in oucstion had been committed last August, ~
was only yesterday that the ag-TessOr was o"Ilou ~
upon TO receive punishment me oce,u~i. l,'o1 80
ore Of The leading ealefs OF this city named
Julius Bcerman. who had sold TO thc tIench oi,
Gccr a charger guaranteed sound. and VINO n"u
subsequently been forced 10 return lne uioncS
and take back the horse, on account Ol VIC l".1a
nrovinr 10 be a "roarcr" This ranlllcd IN the
bosom OF the dealer and whenever he met tic
Count. either driving. riding or walking IN iHc
Tberparten he would aposttophizc him as You
French pig" and assail him with other siihliaih
offensive epithets. The Count paid no atlchlioh
to the mans insults con'eh1inS h "'"Sei TSis "nlv
tended TO exasperatc the horsedcaler more ana on
August IS last, seeing the Count walking Gu5uS
across the Koenigspatz, he deliberately Iurhcu lls
fonr-in-hand toward him, attempted 10 drive over
him. and lashed him heavily twice IN Iaplu ~
ccssion across the face with his coachlnS WHIP
The Count was almost blinded. and ms lace coy
cred with blood from the cuts maze pN ,ie iiS Le
From that time forth the trench EIhpdssS, .I .I'o
been vany clamorng Tor NE Puhsnnemiiu m oa '''r
dealer which has been delayed unlll Scs'eiu"E
on various frivolous preteXts. Yesterday. d,
length the man was condemned 10 SIN "cchs
inprisonment-a rdIculCusiy lnauequ"v sc''lt
cnrsidering the unprovOked nature Of the assault.
;,s nublic nature and the fact that IL was COM
mjtted on the person of a foreign diplomat; On
the same day three officers OF me Nuhius' "um'
KIest. Paron Won Ettlingen and Baron Won Maren-
hol,z. were condemned to small hncs l3r sross ,
iii treatment Of tie chief cashier Of one OF the prh
cipa banks of this city. The latterwho Is a jew IN
the last stages OF consumption. and VINO. more
over has lost one of his legs. was gashed thuinpeu
nd b;cLcd into insensihity by the three gallant
ya,n ynnns bloods, for having paintvcly protested
when, walking three abreast along the MohIen-
strasse they had pushed him asidc IN sucH ~
hru,ai way as 10 cause him to stumble and 80 fall
into the gutter Jews are not in favor IN hlgh
pjaces under the present reign, and plttefly re-
rret the relatively palmy days which they enjoyed
under William |.