The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1893-10-19

| have to deal with several troublesome
| colonial matters, including the Siamese
| incident, which may result seriously, not
to mention many complications with Eng
/ land.
| Italy is passing through a financial
| crisis which is leading them surely and
| quickly to bankruptcy. Belgium has not
come to the end of her constitutional crisis
| Sweden and Norway are in open conflict
| that may result in fOrcible division.
| Bulgaria is in the throes of long stand
| ing crisis, and there exists tacit hostility
| between the people and General SIAM
! bOuloff.
Most of these predictions as to cleo
tons and their results have since been
verified, and many new Developments
confirming them have more recently APP
peared. What the result will be when
this powder magazine is exploded by
some royal fool throwing the stub of his
cigarette into it, who can tell?
SOCIALISM.
Third-We observe this world move
ment among the masses in the tremen-
| dOus development of socialism among
the masses Of the old world.
Socialism is everywhere in Europe the
rising power 1t is no longer a voiceless
mob to be suppressed by club and bay
| onet. 1t is Il resstless uprising of the
| millions whose representatives are fast
crOwding the parliamentary assemblies
OF every nation. In Germany, with her
| broad and deep culture of the masses,
they lead the way In the last elections
their increase was enormous. Other
| parties rise and fall with local events,
but the Social Democrats have with each
election steadily and swiftly advanced.
| Beginning l ) years ago with but a few
of las
| election about 1000, 900, in the face of
| the combined opposition of the govern
| ment and all the traditional cOnserva-
| tive forces OF society.
Already the socialists have captured
| the great cities, almost without eXcep-
ton. Berlin is theirs by such great
majority that if it were an independent
community they could reconstruct So
cety in it at once. Munich, Hamburg,
Bremen, Lubbock, LEIPZIG, Glauchau,
Gotha, Dantzig, Nuremberg and Magde-
| berg are all socialist, with Others to hear
from. AS the population of every coun
try in the world is rapidly concentrating
in the cities, the party that gains con-
troll of the cities is the party OF the fu-
| ture.
The emperor may we'll look to his
guards. The hour of the common peo-
pie surely draws nigh.
PLATFORM OF GERMAN SOCIALISTS.
Are these socialists the enemies of man
and society? This is the platform of
the German Social Democracy. Read
for YOURSELF:
Universal suffrage, male and female,
direct election by secret ballot, one cit
! iZen one vote and biennial parliamentS.
The initiative and referendum.
| Local Self-gOvernment and the election
| of I'll public officials by the people.
Universal military training tor national
defense instead of standing army.
Parliamentary control of the question
| OF peace and war.
| The settlement of international disputes
| by arbltratlOn,
Free speech, free press and free associa-
| ton.
Separation of church and state.
| Compulsory attendance at secularnatlOnal
free schools and free education, free books
and free dinners for pupils, as we'll as for
deserving pupils at higher institutions.
Free Justice, free legal advice and an
| elective judiciary.
The abolition of capital puniShm ent, the
establishment Of criminal courts OF appeal
and compensation for persons unjustly ac-
| cuSed, arrested or condemned.
Free medical assistance for the sick and
free disposal of the dead.
Graduated income, property and success
sion taxes.
The abolition of indirect taxes, duties
and class privileges.
National and international legisla ton
for the protection of the working Glasses,
and state insurance for workmen, with
Workmen sharing in its management.
An unbrOken period of rest of at least
SO hours per week for every wOrkingman.
In England constructive socialism is
rapidly taking control of the govern
ment. \ recent London dispatch to the
Boston Herald says:
SocaliStic schemes are being warmly
fostered by the London county council.
That body is already committed to the
purchase and operation of street railways
and the construction of public works by
direct employment of labor and purchase
of materials instead Of through contractors.
1t will probably soon undertake to supply
coal as we'll as water, gas and electricity
to the inhabitants. When all that has been
done, the steps are comparatively easy to
the assn mpton of all the functions ascribed
to government in Mr.. Bellamy's scheme
In France at the recent election the most
remarkable spectacle of the century was
enacted. All parties were practically
merged into two. On the one hand the
conservative and traditional forces of
society rallied to the publican adminis-
tration and monarchy disappeared. On
the other, the socialists rallied in start
ling force. From an insignificant faction
they developed in one election to the
proportions of national party, the only
one opposition to the government They
elected 60 members of the assembly on
the straight socialists platform and 127
Radicals of about the type of the
present "POpulists' OF Americ ca, making
in all a legislative force of 1877, a unit on
essential principles.
In Belgium We have recently seen the
government surrender to the popular
voice OF the masses and grant them uni
versal suffrage, And that voice had no
expression save in the howl of the street
mob and the sullen defiance of the in
dustral strike.
Australia is already a socialistic con.
tinent and is giving the world each day
a new lesson in the science of progressive
government.
The crown presses each day with greater
weight upon every monarch of the old
world from the car in the north to the
smallest duchy in Germany.
THE REVOLUTION IN AMERICA.
Fourth-We observe this movement
i'll the current revolution in political and
economic life in America.
Our traditional parties are certainly
going to pieces with arapidity that must
! bring dlsmay to their most hOpefu
leaders.
The new Peoples party under most
! adverse conditions polled in the last
campaign 100000 votes and have
; their representatives in the house OF
: representatives and senate and the
governors chairs CT many states. The
great financial panic of this wear has
! destroyed the unity of both the tradi
tlonal parties, and each day it becomes
; more and more apparent that they must
unite against the party representing the
new movement among the masses if it is
, TO be held IN check even temporarily.
y call is now being circulated for a fed
Grafton OF all the labor organizations in
one great alliance for political purposes.
: The bloOdshed at Homestead was the
prophecy OF a new era in our politica
social life. That much is acknowledged
NOV b 4 Af- i