Industrial freedom. [volume] (Edison, Wash.) 1898-1???, 1898-08-27
IIEBKNECHT'S DEFIANCE.
THE GREAT GERMAN LEADER
REVIEWS THE GERMAN ELEC-
TIONs, AND THROWS DOWN
THE GLOVE TO THE ENEMIES
Of THE SOCIAL DEMOCRACY.
The Socialists 10000 Votes Stronger
Than Any Other Party And a
Match For It's Enemies In Fair
Play or Foul.

Play or Foul.
The following letter from Wilhelm
acknowledgement in London Justice:
Dear Comrade:-In to-day's Justice
YOU say in note on the German Elec-
tion-"After the Catholics of the Cen
tire, the Social-Democratic Party is the
strongest in Germany" You do not
give us our due. We are not the strong
est party after the Centre, but we are
by far stronger than the Centre, as far
as the electoral body is concerned.
4The chief election of June 16 this year
gave us 2,125, 900 votes, while the Cen
tre had only 1.333,0OO. So we have
nearly 100000 voters more, or nearly
two-ffths. And the difference appears
still greater, If we consider that since
June Is, 1898, the day of the last pre-
eeding General Election, the Centre
has lost 1850 votes, while we have
gained $4,000 So we are an advanc-
Fng and growing party and the Centre
Is retreating and decaying party.
The error has doubtlessly been caused
by the fact that the Centre has nearly
fwice as many deputies in the Reich
Etag, and more than any other party.
But this is the effect of our miserable
Electoral system, which has not provid-
ed for equality of the electoral dis
tricts. Originally, by the ''Constitu-
ion " we were to have one deputy or
member for every 100000 inhabitants.
The districts were formed in the year
pS7-that is thirty-one years ago, and
then on the basis of census nearly
ben years old. And now think of the
immense change in the population and
Is distribution, OF the mass-migration
rom the country into the towns. At
hat time Berlin had 100000 inhabit-
nts, and it got six members. Now
Berlin has 100000 inhabitants, and
ught to have eighteen members. The
istrict wi Berlin, which sends me to
be Reichstag has for itself alone l45.-
w electors, and sufficient population
or six districts. On the other hand,
he number of population in the broad
country remained stationary, or even
decreased, and just in those parts
Where Democratic and Socialist ideas
10 not find such nourishment and can
pot spread as quickly as in the towns
|he Centre and the Conservatives have
fheir chief support of strength. If we
ad as many members as the Social
)emocratic vote gives us right to.
e should have 1l6 members instead of
[ity-siX, and the Catholic Centre about
3eventy instead of l03.
The Government and the reactionary
PARTIES have not yet recovered from the
cunning blow our victory gave them.
hey entertain the widest schemes of
iaVing their lettering power-correct-
hg universal suffrage, a new gagging
aw that sends all agitators to prison or
ut OF the country-a coup d etat, the
cost desperate and stupid plans are
Rut forward and discussed. Well, we
r. them think, talk, write, and do
nat they like. We can only feel JOY
all these involuntary confessions of
helr inability to fight us in fair fight.
no our JOY is not married by any fear.
re know our strength and resources,
hd We know the strength and resources
our enemies. We are prepared for
III play and for foul play, and we are
match for them, whether they use
'ir play or foul play.
Yours fraternally,
WILHELM LIEBKNECHT.
July o, 1898.