News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1890-03-20
EUROPE'S DANGER.
Jules Simon ON the Coming Labor Con-
ference at Berlin.
He Thinks it nI-advised and Destined to
Fail.

The Herald's European edition publishes
an interview with NJ. Jules Simon. who has
been appointed one of the French delegates
to the Berlin Conference. Among other
things Simon says: SIT is with the greatest
reluctance that have accepted the invitation
extended TO me by the Government to be
Que OF It's representatives at the Berlin Labor
Congress. The more l reflect on the eharac-
ter OF the conference the less certain | am
that my time viii not be wasted To be per
1ectly frank, consider the action of the Ger
man Emperor in calling the congress illad-
NlSed' He IS young man with high ideas,
and IS doubtless sincere in thinking he has
found remedy for dangerous situation.
But older and wiser heads look ahead with
concern, and do not see how the danger can
be lessened by the means he has proposed.
" After all, what can this labor conference
hope to accomplish: Absolutely nothing,
unless 1t be to pave the way for subsequent
conference of a diplomatic character. When
that second conference is raed as think it
Will be some months later, what can it ac-
eomplish? Very little. Perhaps to make
some agreement as to the employment of
women or children, perhaps little more.
FOR myself, have no faith in the Congress
being able to come to any agreement whatso-
ever regarding the hours of daily labor, or
any OF the most important features of the
labor question. There are too wide differ
enees IN the characters, climates and re-
sources of the various European nations to
make any such understanding possible.
1.-The danger against which the Young Sow
ereign hopes to guard, is the rising tide of
Socialism. He faucieS, i'm his experience,
that by showing himself conciliatory and
philanthropic. he viii win the Socialists
from their discomfort. But he is mistaken.
He Will find the Socialists are so constituted
that the more you cOncede the more they de-
mand. He will find that having taken his
first step on the road to concession. It wifi he
&rr1possl Jie for nun 10 Draw back. lie viii
have to take other steps and make other con-
eesslons, his enemies growing meantime
stronger and more eXacting. while he finds
himself less and less capable to check the
avalanche which he has himself in part set in
motion. | look forward. therefore, with
grave apprehension to the effect upon Europe
OF this present labor agitation.
81 regard the emperor's rescripts as mark
ing an lmpor ant epoch in the progress of
the Soclaiistic movement. Already I can
hear the mutterings of what must be the
struggle of the future, the bitter struggle re-
tween the many and the few; between the
toling millions who have thus far suffered
silently, and those who have made them suf-
fer; between capital and labor; between lux
ury and starvation; between misery and
wealth. No human being can avert that
struggle, but human power may do much to
hasten its approach. / shall not see the dav
and you may not see it, but the day is COM
ing VIXEN the autocratic powers of Europe
Will be forced to unite against united social
lStlc army and to stand or fall together"