The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-03-22
RED FLAG IN EUROPE.
The Famous Socialist Cipriani
Reviews the Situation.
ITALY ON THE EDGE OF REVOLT.

when the workingmen Of All Nations
Arc United, Then war, the Pas
time OF Kings. VIII End.
PARIS, March Especial Correspond
ence. lit is not easy to give any definite
idea of the strength of socialism in Italy,
for the simple reason that our numbers
augment every day. Italy is a country
where socialism spreads like wild-iire and
the hundreds of today are thousands to-
morrow. People reproach US with talking
much and doing nothing. This is not so.
In revolutions there are three very distinct
phases--germination, preparation and
action. One cannot ever say precisely
what time will be occupied by the transit
ton from the second to the third stage.
At the present time we are active propa-
gandists. Sometimes, however, fifteen and
twenty years of propaganda do not suffice,
and from time to time it is necessary to
attempt to impose our ideas by means
of revolts. The purpose of such partial
revolts is to spread a knowledge of
our ideas, to propagate them. to force our
enemies to discuss them. When princi-
pie has been thus imposed by long years
of struggle and sacrifice it must ultimately
triumph. The faith in the future it is
which keeps us at our posts. The lack of
it and ignorance of our holding it causes
people to consider us as mere takers.
whereas really we never lose sight of the
final end, which is action or revolution.
Two years ago / founded the Italian So
cialist party, and already sections are in
course of organization throughout the
country. We have besides the working
mems party, the Mazzinian republican
party and the social revolutionists.
/ believe that if the various socialist so
cieties unite we shall at no very distant
date arrive at a good result. BY good
result mean the putting down of mon
archy in Italy. What constitutes the
force of our enemies is our disaccord, our
pitiful divisions-which never produce
any good consequences. From the mo-
ment we can come to an understanding
and especially when We can organize our
selves, Wa become a force to be counted
with, for We are in a majority in the coun-
try. Then the monarchy will find before
her an implacable enemy, capable, if not
OF overthrowing her, at any rate of giving
her violent shock. At present am in
ignorance as to whether the socialist party
In America will be able to aid us i'll this
task. / think, however, that being in an
economical position far superior to that in
which we are situated in Europe, it could
much more easily assist us than could the
socialist party in Germany, especially
when one takes into consideration the lib
erty it enjoys, liberty far greater than
that which the Emperor William allows to
our brothers beyond the Rhine.
What we really want is that socialists of
all nations shall come to an agreement
amongst themselves to put down each its
own enemies. If we do it simultaneously
our ideal will be realized But this is a
dream. The spirit of solidarity amongst
us has not yet reached that point Of devel-
opment; consequently in Italy, having no
hope of help from outside, we are endeav-
oring to do all in our power towards the
attainment of that end which we should
never reach were we to idly wait for suecor
1t is easy to see that we are onsthe eve of
great events. The social revolution is be-.
ing prepared throughout the whole world.
The incessant strikes, the revolts and the
consequent bloodshed, the frequent con-
formations of revolutionists, all prove
conclusively the truth of what am stat
ing.
The social revolution will revolutionize
the social condition of men. 1t has moth
ing whatever to do with political revolu-
ton. Anybody whose object is to upset
the established form of government may
be called a revolutionist. Paul de Cassag-
nae is revolutionist in his way, but he
has nothing whatever in common with us.
Political revolutions are invariably made
for the benefit of q caste or of an indiyid-
ual and are as invariably motived by am
bition, or greed, or some other vile passion.
But the social revolution is one which
is to increase the well-being, not of an
individual or of q caste, but of the masses
the workers. And of what nation these
workers may be is matter of indiffer-
ence to us. Whether they be French
or German, English or American, they
are in any case our brethren. Social
revolutioRists are ready to take up arms
for the oppressed of any nation. But to-
day the social and political position of Eu-
rope being what it is, it is we, the revolu-
tionists, who are pacific. 1t is we who de-
mand peace; we are indignant that people
should die of hunger while states spend
millions in maintaining permanent ar
mics; we object with all our force to the
giving up of nations to the horrors of war
merely in order to satisfy the caprice of a
sovereign or to serve the interests of
dynasty. The coming revolution will be
economic, that is to say, it will strike at
capital, the sole enemy of the working
classes. Consequently we are justified in
naming the revolution now preparing a
social and economic one.
The electoral conflict recently ended in
Italy left us quite Indifferent, for the very
good reason that parliaments ameliorate
the position of the working world in no
respect. Whether Crispi is surrounded by
five hundred radicals or by i've hundred
monarchists influences us in no way In
either case the toilers of Italy remain in a
half-starved condition, and are still forced
to enrich those signori with the produce of
their labor. For this reason the social
revolutionists-about three-fourths of the
population-took no part in the late cleo
tons.
One might say the same thing of Ger
many. William H.. who has sought to
mystify socialism, has not attained his OBJ
ject. At most he has only succeeded in
turning the heads of few old fogies who
were socialists only in name. Assuredly
William is shrewd. By his attitude he
has succeeded in warding off the social
revolution for time. We should have
preferred the iron hand of Bismarck.
whose intolerance would speedily have led
TO revolution, lie, to liberty whereas the