The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-02-17
THE SOCIALISM OF GERMANY.

A recent article of Herr Liebknecht,
the leader OF the Social Democrats in
Germany. will serve to correct very
general misapprehension regarding the
views and aims of that large body Of
Germans who are called Socialists. He
shows that there is in this country a
very general misapprehension regarding
that large and increasing element in
Germany, since it is in no sense social
istic in the meaning Of the term in this
country. The principles of the Social
Democracy are liberty of speech. press
and religion, national education for all,
universal suffrage, the abolition OF
standing armies and the creation of
national militia, the settlement OF in
ternational disputes by courts of arbi-
tration equal rights for men and wom-
en- and the limitation of the hours of
labor There is no socialism in such
declaration. All of the views set forth
country as far as they can be. The
hours OF labor in corporations are limit
ed SO far as they can be in the laws
of the most progressive States. The
people of the United States are in favor
of the settlement of international dis
putes by courts of arbitration, and all
it's recent controversies with other gov
ernments have been so settled.
Herr Liebknecht, in the article re-
ferred to, goes on to express his dissent
from what, are regarded as socialistic
and paternal ideas in this country. He
opposes government insurance of work
ingmen against sickness. accidents and
death. He denounces the proposition
to abolish private property in the in
struments of production, which includes
railways and mines In fact, the Ger
man leader of the progressive element
is rather a champion of individualism
than of socialism. 1t is simply revolt
against the absolutism and paternalism
of Germany which the present Emperor
loses no opportunity to emphasize. It
is a protest against a military system
which ignores individual liberty by TAX
ing some of the best years of the life
of every able-bodied man for service in
a standing army which can have no
use except to maintain what has been
called the balance of power. In all Eu-
rope there is an increasing protest
against the policy of monarchical gov
ernments which burden the masses with
the maintenance of vast standing ar
mics. 1t is pure popular government
which the Social Democrats Of Ger
many, as represented by Liebknecht,
are seeking. and because they are the
advocates of absolutism have called
them Socialists and accuse them of So
cialism. a word which in this country
means paternal government. In fact.
the limited number of people in this
country who affect socialism should go
to Germany, where there is a paternal
government. which runs the railroads
and has national Insurance for working
men. and which treats the masses as
children who must be cared for Such is
the state socialism advocated by many
Of those who hold socialistic views in
this country.
When it is recalled that the Social
Democratic party has increased from
less than 125.OO0 votes in 1871 to nearly
two million in 1893 it must be seen that
there is cause for the alarm of the sup
porters of absolutism and of their re-
strictive measures in the Reichstag.