The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-03-04
GERMAN SOCIALISM.


Whatever the immediate cause of the
recent disturbance in Berlin, it is evil
dent that there is back of it drep feel
ing of discomfort. Such an acute mani
festation of 1T at the present time is I'M
doubtedly premature. 1t is not to be
forgotten, however, that Bebel, the lead
er of the radical wing of the Socialist
party, declared at the Erfurt conference
last fall that an industrial revolution
was sure to come in Germany within the
next three or four years, and that the
success of it meant the destruction of
the whole fabric of society. Previous to
the recent attempts of Emperor William
to force his autOcratic notions upon the
country the Socialists had been split in
to number of not over-friendly fac
tiOns. In aim and ultimate purpose
they were identical. But the more con-
sentative ones were for making stand
on palliative measures, rather than de-
handing all at once. The radicals on
the other hand, maintained that their
desires could never be attained without
aconi1ict, and that it was better to have
it out and over at once, And so the
matter might have been waged inter-
minably had Emperor William been more
discreet. As it is now, the German So
clalists are united again as theyI were
under the ban of Bismarck.
German Socialism runs back to Rod
bertus, Marx and Lassalle. Their
theories of industrial life were thor
Oughly scientific in character. They
based them upon the physiological
psychological and social constitution of
man, and the laws so derived they fol-
lowed relentlessly to their logical con-
illusions. Their theories in application
called for a state that should exist solely
for the labOrers. Land and capital
under such a regime are to be collective
property and production is to be carried
on unitedly. Officers, especially charged
with the function, are, by means of care
fully selected statistics, to regulate pro-
duction according to the needs of the
people. The present money is to be re-
placed by that representing labor units
and labor is to be the sole purchasing
power. Each is to eujoy the fruits of
his own work. Those who serve So
ciety best will be promoted. The higher
officers will receive the larger salaries.
Industry and intelligence will enable
one to rise, but there is to be no heaping
up of private productive property from
generation to generation. That would
mean, of course, that the modern laws
of inheritance must be done away with.
The State thus becomes a great CO.
operative body, and the only distinctions
that remain are those of personal
ability.
The embodiment of this in working
platform, of course, necesSitated some
notifications. AS adopted az Erfurt,
the basis of that is the immediate trans
formation of all of the means of produc-
ton into common ownership. This is
to be followed by the corresponding
transfer of production itself to the con-
troll and interest of all. 1t calls, further,
for universal suffrage without distinc-
ton of sex and for free education 1t
calls for the popular election of Judges
and for free administration of justice
and for free medical attendance. Itcalls
for anIextension of the principle of local
government and for an unbrOken rest of
at least SO hours in each week for every
wOrkingman. These last do not strike
one as exceedingly radical. Many of
them, indeed, have been adopted in this
country. 1t is not those, however, but
! their fundamental demand for a change
in the industrial system that shows the
Socialists real purpose. 1t is thought
that they hope to reach the condition
outlined by Lassale. 1t is for that that
every German Socialist is laboring and
voting. That may be said to be their
| goal. journal.