The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-07-02

character, of whom they expect the greatest
deeds" The other party the whole of the
aristocracy. and the greater portion OF the
bourgeoisie fear him more than any one else,
and therefore hate him indescribably." II the
women OF this aristocratic society will not for
give Sophie Won Solutzew for marrying such q
man, on tho other hand many women will not
forgive her because such n man has married
her. will envy her her good fortune that is
| beyond her deserts. And truly will not con-
| ceal from you that IL certain events come
about. It might we'll be that food OF action.
sonorous and splendid. would burst upon your
life should you become my wife,
Before marking what Mr.. Bernstein. as O
| disciple Of Karl Marx. has to say about Las
sale considered as a Socialist agtator. and as
the bequeather Of legacy to the German
working class movement. let us refer very
briefly to the love affair which cost him hi,
life. Lassalle believed that he had found tho
wife OF his choice in Helene Won Donniges.
| The only difficulty was to obtain the consent
OF the parents. Lsssale had not tho faintest
doubt that the influence OF his personality
would overcome this difficulty as it had many
| another Self-consciously and yet at the same
| time. with circumspect calculation Of every
| possible contingency, he drew up his plan Of
| campaign. He was to appear. he was
| to conquer the good will of the par
ents and wiring from them their con-
sent before they really knew what they
were doing in ac1uiescing. Then sudden
ly a small unforeseen obstacle came in the
way. Through the indiscretion of the young
| lady the parents learned earlier than was ex-
pected of the engagement, and declared that
they would not accept Lassalle as "A son-i law
undor any circumstances Lassalle. however.
did not yet give up his plan. His triumph. he
thought. would only be the greater the firmer
the opposition Of the parents. Strong in his
self-conndence, he took a step which gave
such turn to the situation that all hope OF
attaining his end In the way planned was ex-
cluded-a step that shook even the girls own
faith in him. Well. then. he said. If not in this
way then in another So. regardless OF what
he owed to himself and his political position.
Lassale began struggle in which there was
for him but one point OF view-success. To
him every means that promised success seem
ed right Spies were employed to watch the
D0nniges family and to report their every
movement. Through the instrumentality OF
Hans Won Bnlow. Richard Wagner was en-
treated to induce the King Of Bavaria to inter-
pose on Lassalle's behalf with Herr Won
DOnniges. while to Bishop Ketteer Of Malnz
was offered Lassalles conversion to Catholi-
cism in order that the Bishop might exercise
his influence in Lassalle's favor Lassale did
not in the least care how unworthy it was OF
the historical mission he had set himself to
dance attendance upon kings minister. so
that the latter might help him to his love. nor
did he care how little worthy he was proving
him self Of his prototype. Uirich Won Hutton.
when he petitioned the incarnate representa-
tive Of Rome to help him to obtain wife. Here.
where he might have shown pride and should
have shown it. he did not.
Nevertheless. success was not attained. The
Bishop OF Mainz could do nothing because
Helene Won D0nniges was n Protestant. and
the mediation attempted by confidential rep
resentatves sent to the scene of the struggle
by the Bavarian Minister for Foreign Affairs
only seemed to prove to Lassalle that. by his
method Of proceeding. he had placed himself
and the woman he was fighting for in a totally
false position. Although he knew that Helene
was absolutely without strength OF will and
had indeed perceived in this an advantage
for his future life In her companionship-
Keep Helene for me in the submissive
frame OF mind In which she now is"
he once wrote to the Countess Hatzfeldt-he
all at once expected her to do that which de-
manded a strong will. and was indignant be-
cause she tried to back out Of it Upheld by
his SELF esteem. and accustomed to look at
things exclusively from the point OF view OF
his own moods and interests he had entirely
left out OF his calculations the fact that it is the
most submissive human beings who most cas-
lily change their Impressions. and thus he saw
"boundless treachery" and the most IN
heard OF trick" Of an abandoned Jade. where
there was nothing more than the in ta bilty OF
a erisette in high life.
Meantime his nervous system had become
completely shattered, and for q long time he
hnI lnRn ani fha 80
healthy will. Sudden resort to violent means
anxiety to move heaven and earth about every
petty matter inability to bear with contradc-
ton or to deny ones self any DESIRE are not
proofs OF mental strength. but Of extreme weak
ness. The rapid alterations between outbursts
OF anger and Of tears that. according to the
unanimous testimony OF eyewitncsses at this
time manifested themselves in Lassalle. point
Enthusiastically to an absolutely ruined nervous
system. In this state of things. it was impos-
sible for him to take his defeat quietly.
and no sought to obtain satisfaction
in duel for tho insult which. in his
opinion. had been offered him. Foolish
as duelling is in itself. 1t seems to Mr.. Bern
stein comprehensive enough under these !
particular circumstances In the circle OF
society in which this affair occurred duel Is
the cleansing bath that removes all stain and !
insult. and II Eassalle had not the moral
strength to resort only to means such as be- |
became the representative OF the party |
Of tho socialistic reorganization Of So
cety. then 1t WAS but logical that he should
try to obtain satisfaction for tho supposed in
suit offered after the fashion of his surround
incs In word, no who faced the Bcyard
Janko Won Racowitza In a duel was not the So
ciallst Lassalle. but Lassalle. the would-be |
aristocrat m merchants son. and II in the person |
OF the latter the former was shot down. no |
thereby expiated tho sin Of having allowed his |
other self to gain the ascendancy.
".
It was not much more than year before his |
death that Lassalle. who. by this time had be- !
como very distinguished man. broke with |
the Progressists In Prussia and undertook to !
organize an independent workingman's party |