The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-12-08
SOCIALISM IN BERLIN.
Description Of q Meeting Of a
Young Mems Society.
APIoTuRs OF THE GREAT BEsEL,
seedy. Disseminated Clerks and rssdss-
men Ardent Red Flag Agfsato4s-
DR.. Adler and Herr LiebknsehA.

Bsbel and Lisbknech. will be there, also Engel
and DR.. Adler from Vienna are expected"
II was very easy 70 gain admittance ~ the
socialists, since they have changed their plat
form and endeavored TO advance their ideas in
peaceful cam paign like that OF any other polit-
icAi parry, have risen in the esteem OF the pubic
and are no longer watched with the suspicious
eyes OF the Berlin consta5les.
The gathering consisted Of . young set OF
socialists, who among themselves called each
and always met In one of the Heisbiers Stuoen
In the Augusten Strasse.
The place of meeting was democratic enough
barren tap-room with a few tables surrounded
by chairs and few Autographs and engravings
OF celebrities and battle scenes on the walls.
However, on this night an adjoining dancing
hall was thrown open for the unavoidable
speech-making
When entered saw through the thick clouds
OF cigar smoke q number OF men standing in
groups or seated al tables, lifting huge bowls OF
Weiebier with both hands TO their lips and in
dulging in a slight repass OF Frankiurter saus-
ages and cabbage.
The majority Of those present were seedy. dis
contented looking young men, who apparently
suffered from dyspepsic troubles; there were
young clerks, tradesmen and common iaborers.
some seemed TO be there only for q pAstine,
while others were in deadly earnest, and certain,
II their ambition is violent their gesticula-
tons and growth of hair, they must succeed.
They looked, however. capable of something
stronger than weisbier, which they choose no
doubt ON account OF its respecta5ility, for any
thing stronger would undoubtedly cause them
to utter words risky to their newly achieved
regulations.
Notwithstanding one could hear many stray
bits of conversation like the following:
"The churches have TO be burnt down." en-
phasized a working man.
-
ture halls and the red flag will be hoisted on
the steeples," answered stylishly dressed dry
goods clerk with red hair and ffeekies, with
great deliberation, and both looked very sesi-
Gus.
Another pair:
"The present emperor has at least consider
alton for the working class, believe me, Meyer"
what DO you know, schulze; didn't Aachia-
veli say that there are two sorts OF rulers,
namely despots and hypoerites," pointing to a
picture of the emperor. ale belongs TO the
latter
In o corner q gentleman attracted attention by
his keen and Sharply cut features, full OF intel
ligence. Now and then he snoothed back his
prematurely gray hair. Ii was Dr.. Adler, the
leading socialist OF Austria and the editor of the
Worknses's FoScs Of all socialists he has en-
joyed the best education and q wide experience
with all classes of society. He was convsrsing
with Frederick Engel, once an intimate friend
of Carl Marx, who had made the economic de-
velopmens of modern Europe the study OF a life
time. Engsl was debating as usual mis- eetsrGn
csnseo, that the end OF politics was approaching,
and in his eyes was far-away look, as his large,
expressive mouth uttered words of q prophecy
Ing though dictatorial character.
August Bebel the model laborer, a. his party
calls him, was present He did not look esps-
cially intelligent as he sat at the table. his head
resting on both hands, but nevertheless there
was something in his rudy face and well-set
read his book on women" translated into all
European languages, know what sincerity and
sound judgment this man possesses, who works
regularly at the turner's lathe, as he has never
left his trade except for speaking in the reichs-
tag, where he has been able 10 hold his own
with men like Swiuson and Lasker. Bellamy's
Looking Backward has q strange resemblance
to book which Bebel wrose quite number Of
years ago.
high waves and grew more tumultuous with
every moment All the favortte topics of uni
versal suffrage, progressive income tax, and
state surveillance of factories were on the tapis
medical student, SO short-sighted that he
had TO bring his face in very close proximity TO
his neighbours 70 see what impression his asser.
lions made upon his surrounding, argued the
inconsistency OF human greatness.
But Napoleon was q great manP'
$50 were the anarchists!'
"Bu. how do you MAKE that ousf" argued the
At this the medical student looked as IL he
wished TO impress . fraternal kiss on his OPP
nberately for great cause not for their own
benefit"
sand you really wapt to convince me that
al think they are as great as Christ, and even
greateri interrupted the student.
few seats distant youthful agitator demon
etratei that the liberty OF man consists il obey
ing the laws OF nature alone
81 want no authority. neither human nor di.
vine, collective or Individual he wound up his
efforts.
vegetarian remarked, "Noltke was OF course
remarkable man, but to say that war Is abb
solately necessary-pshawl,
Then the door opened and all glances were
directed to the tall, impressive figure which en-
tored with kindly nod he looked genuine
German, with a full, flowing beard, still brown,
though he is close TO o.. 1t was LiebkneehI, the
foremost disciple OF Marx Also he, when not
representative of the reiehstag, is employed
In active business. He could have accumulated
quite a fortune as politician, but ne would
never sacrifice any of his principles to personal
gain. Al his leisure time IL devoted TO the in
struciioD OF the common people: be is not so
far superior 10 those be teaches, but far enough
70 take the lead.
Ii was growing late and DR.. Adler rose to make
speech after urgent request he advanced the
theory OF militia replacing the standing army
Ia connection with the popular control OF for
eign politics. His password was: "The popular
decision as 20 peace or war is an irrefutable ue-
cessity." The orator had most peculiar as well
as effective way OF delivering il, in clenching
the table with both hands, throwing himself
back al arms length, Is he threw the password
forward.
He was eheered with great enthusiasm Then
Bebel rose He is not what 10 called al orator
out his slow, steady, intelligent way OF speaking
never Taiis 10 make an Impression, and each OF
has sentences betrays knowledge and personal
experience. he gave a review of the sooialistic
movement as IL appears IN the different Euro
pean countries. He said that socialism was
growing fast in Russia, England and France,
ano, though : WAS still branching off in many
directions, that after sll, Blanceists and Chris
tan socialists belong 10 one trunk In spain
but their literature OF scientific socialism
Is steadily increasing and men Like Iglesias
help 20 put aside Htoptan schemes and revclu-
uonaTy d.stur Dances. Italy and the Scandlnav-
Ian countries were comparatively quiet, though
workmeH there are gradually awakening 10
thoughts OF action. while men in the dull,
little Hollsnd, DoInela Nieuwenhuis, with his
much read "kech .voOr Allen has frightened
the conservative Dutch bourgeOisie. In Belgium
the CAVITY OF the situation OF the coal miners
Is seApow edged on every side. They are more
IN need OF immediate help than any other
people OF Europe. Bat Il was iett 70 Germany
70 give 10 socialism its scientific basis, aud that
through Carr Marks work on Capital" IL had
gained such strong ioothold, that even It's op-
po1ents were obliged 10 investigate its forms
aid aims
Shortly after Bebsl's speech the guests turned
70 leave, aud IL seemed tina. with their depar-
turs socialism had lest al It's virtues. for by
tEis 1lI1le, toe beer was prO3Gselv spilled OF the
hooF, ana the cigar smoke had grown dense
and the remaining crowd become so noisy that
II Na' Hn pleasant 20 stay with them any longer,
out wished 10 hold out until the end
The names of Darwin, Bismarck and Jesus
CHRIST were continually interElngled in the
mouotonous see saw OF their speeches. To me
IL seemed z iatoieraUie repetition Of the same
arg nent undeZ various forms
A. sast ANAL, dark man, apparently an anti
SOCIALIST, vita excited manners, mounted q
st0oi and poured forth vehement flow OF
leoor Is source Of valEe, out that capita. wKs
me outcome o. unpaid lsocr was not true; that