The daily state chronicle., 1890-07-13

| theV did not live Tor themSeiVeS, DuJ IOI
the higher classes, especially the capl-
| talists; that in the economic sense they
were a mere commodity, which demand
increased just as it would increase the
number of stockings, and which lessen
| ing demand would diminish. Lasselle
laid special stress on ~, the Iron Law
OF Wages; (2), the systematic robbery
of Laborers by capitalists; (3), Marks
theory of industrial crises and panics,
|. Although Lassalle was slain in a duel
arising out Of a love affair, he was at
once canonizsd by the working men as a
martyr to their cause, and his influence
! became at once much greater than it had
! ever. been in life.
GERMAN SOCIAL DEMOCRACY.
It has been seen that the organization
of the "Universal German Laborers'
Union" by Lassalle at Leipsic, in
1864, was the birth of social de
mocracy. In 1875 it was fused at
Gotha with the "Social Democratic
Labor Party" ocial-demokratische Ar
beitpartie) which had been formed at
Eisenbach in 1869. The union became
known as the ''Socialistic Workingmen' s
Party Of Germany" Lassalle had de-
manded universal and equal suffrage for
all, and the introduction Of universal
suffrage by the North German Confeder-
alton n 1867. and by the German En-
pire III 1871, enabled the social democrats
to enter upon the political struggle with
some nope OF success, but the system Of
the Prusslan constitution, under which
voters are divided into three classes ac-
cording to wealth, and where a vote of
the first class counts as much as fifteen
votes in the third class, has done much
towards repressing the struggle CT the
poor man in his own behalf.
Inc social democratic party is COM
posed very largely Of laborers who ex-
pect revolution to precede the intro
auction OF the socialistic state. They
form the extreme wing Of the socialists
and lay much stress on equality of en-
Joyment regardless Of ones labor. Bat
many of the most educated of the social
democrats believe that the socialistic
state Will be organized very much after
the plan OF an army where all emulation
and rivalry are provided for and where
each man will be placed according to his
capacity. They demand that the State
exist for laborers exclusively, that land
ana capital become public property, that
production be carried on unltedly
and according to the needs of the
people, that labor be the sole
purchasing power and that money be
represented by labor units. They demand
That Sunday work cease, even under the
present State, which should also forbid
the employment of very young children
and forbid the employment of WORKING
women in labor injurious to health and
morality. They demand more education
Tor the people and say that under their
system the waste arising from competi-
ton and from the lack of organization IN
industry would disappear, while the in
creased power coming with new inven-
tlons would accrue to the whole social
oody and not to the capitalist as under
the present regime.
In 1867 the social democrats sent two
members to the Constituent Assembly
and eight members to the Parliament Of
ne North German Confederation. Since
the organization Of the German Emnire
III 1851 they have cast votes as follows:
In 1871, 123, 975 votes with two mem.
oers IN the Relchstag; in 1874, 35l. .952
votes with nine members; in 1877. 493.-
700 votes, which was more than one
eleventh OF all the votes cast, with twelve
members; in 1873, 437, 158 votes with
nlne members. When we remember
that there are nine or ten political par
ties in Germany these figures become
very significant
IHE ANTI-sOCIALIsT LAW OF
1873.
On May II, 1878, an attemnt was
made to assassinate the German Emneror
Ice police could find no accomnlices #
was proved that the would-be assassin
bad belonged to the social democratic
party, but had been expelled. The lead
eTs OF the socialists denied all connec-
ton with the affair. But Prince Bismarck
LOOK advantage Of it to frame
law against the socialists which was nre.
sented to the German Parliament Nav
~ Inc first article Of his bill was de-
feated four days later by a vote of 25l
TO o.. The government considered fur-
ther proceedings unnecessary. June
Snd, second and partially successful
attempt was made On the life of the
emperor. No accomplices were discov-
ered. The Parliament was dissolved at
once and new election ordered. The
election took place July 80 and the SO.
clallsts returned nine members. A new
Dill was presented against the socialist
on the first day of the session and pas.
seq October 18th, by vote of 221 to
49, The parliament was adjourned
the same day and the law was promnl. |
gated October 21st.
This law was Prince Bismarck's maas
ure. Its most prominent features were
III themselves socialistic, VIZ: it's en-
cfoachments upon the rights Of indi-
Vlduals and its inroads upon the State
constitutions. It's provisions we're car.
iled out with utmost vigor. The .Jonr-
nails of the socialists We're annihilated
ana their clubs dissolved. All MEETINGS
were prohibited under heavy penalties
ana many ingenious methods having No
warrant ": IN law were used to compel the
lgnt OF leaders and suspects against
whom 1t was impossible to make ont q
case. In some cases even the eytraordi-
uary power was conferred on the state
governments of proclaming for def
nlte period something like martial law
ID districts that seemed exposed to
danger The minions for the execntion
Of these laws were the nolion n
and the officious police of Ron