The daily state chronicle., 1890-07-13

expect to cure the masses of social
democracy by repressive measures alone;
for the social democrats had bullded Oh
the well grounded discontentS OF the
people. 1t was his purpose to remove
this discomfort. The first effort In this
direction was in 1881 in his Accident H.
surarce bill; by which provisions were
made for laborers who were injured
while following their calling and for
their families in case of death. The man
agement of this business was to be in the
hands of government and the govern
ment was to bear part of the expenses.
Bismarck was thus fighting the socialis s
with their own weapons and his follow
ers have ever adopted socialistic phrases;
but to prevent its appearing that the
government was sailing under the flag of
socialism, pure and simple, the new
school of State socialists was establish
ed. These efforts have been received
with distrast by the socialists who see
that it is an effort to win back the mas
ses to personal despotism and we may
say that they have been on the whole
unsuccessful.
GERMAN SOCIALISM OF TODAY.
Since the repressive laws of 1878 the
social democrats of Germany have held
two congresses. The first was at Wyden,
in Switzerland, in August, 1880. This
congress resulted in complete triumph
for the moderate party. The leading
extremists, Hasselmann and Most, now
of America fame, were expelled. In
1884 the social democrats polled 900, 900
votes and won twenty four seats in the
Reichstag; in 1887 they polled nearly
700, OOO votes, but had only eleven mem
bers Of Parliament This election, how
ever, cannot be considered as expressive
of the popular will; for it was made un-
der pressure of impending var and the
government made al Efforts 10 secure q
majority favoratie to tie proposed large
increase in the army. The socialists have
strong centers in Berlin, HAMBURG.
Breslau, Eberfeld, Munich and Nuren.
berg: In 1887 their vote IN Berlin was
93, 600 out Of total of 232, 600; in
lo9O 1t was 1850 out of 23O.-
oOo. This majority in the cap
ltal OF the German Empire has
been won in the face of the efforts of
the Emperor and Bismarck to amelio-
rate the fortunes of the laborer by leg
lslatlon. The growth of socialism in
twenty SIX OF the principal cities of the
Empire Is seen in the total vote of 506.
$50 IN 1890, against $50, 5S7 in 1887. and
263, O45 in 1884. In the elections held
February of this year, the socialists won
thlrty-flye seats IN the Reichstag. Among
their candidates were twelve CARPENTERS.
ten machinists, eight compositors. six
merchants, four cigar makers, three
tavern keepers, three masons, three
moulders, two guilders, two druggists
and eight journalists. Since the ma
Jority of the socialist leaders, as we'll
as their constituents, are poor men. and
can Ill afford to serve in the Keichstag
without pay, salaries are provided for
them by their supporters from contribu-
tlons made by socialists in all parts Of
the world. Thus the international
character Of their efforts, which was so
strongly emphasized by Marx is again
brought to the front.
The socialist Leaders of to-day are
Llebknecht, an extremist, but Of great
Bebel, a disciple of Lebknecht.
and the first German artisan to push |
himself into the forefront of political
lie; and Sanger, wealthy and philan-
thropic Jew.
State socialism embraces, as we have
seen, those who wish to extend the func-
tons of the State as it now exists. and
this IS essentially the doctrine Of the
professional socialists. In 1868 the
Catholic church Of Germany began to
organize unions of its own for the eleva-
ton OF the workingman. These unions
nave been so successful that the social
lists say they can make no converts
where this church socialism has been
Socialism in the Protestant churches of |
Germany dates from 1878.
STEHEN B. WEEKS