The representative., 1901-11-07
The GROWTH OF SOCIALISM

Like huge specter, Socialism, ono,
regarded as passing Utopia by pres
and people, now rises to confront tn,
monarchs of Europe and challenge tn,
road to political victory. Emerson
somewhere says, "Set thought adrif
in the world and all the powers of thu
universe cannot arrest it." 1t has proved
so with the thought of Karl Marx and
Lassalle. After untold ridicule and pro-
Secution it has become the corner stone
of the most powerful political party ir
Europe today.
The recent election for the reichstae
at Memel- Heidkrug was a most signifi-
cant example of the rapid increase OF
Socialism in Germany of late years
Since 1893 the Socialist vote has in
creased so per cent in this district, and
is the latest instance of the growing
power of the collective party in the en-
pire. The Democratic Socialist party is
today the strongest political party in
Germany. 1t has been steadily growing
for the last thirty years. AT the general
election for the reichstag in 1871 the
Socialist candidates polled 124,655 votes
in 1881, 31I,o61; in 1890, 1,427, 7,2o8; in
1893, 1,787z38; in 1893, 100000 votes.
Where will it end?
In the growth of Socialism in Ger
many is found lesson for workingmen
all over the world. 1t has shown what
peaceful association can do in the teeth
of the greatest despotisms in the world.
When the first Socialist speakers ap-
peared in the large German cities, the
emperor thought to tread the propaganda
out of sight under the savage heel of
mllitarism. The meetings were forbid
den and all Socialistic gatherings out
lawed. But this did not discourage the
leaders. Instead of resorting to violence
and fighting the police they kept on agi-
tating in quiet ways. After long Pc
riod of suppression there was but one
hall in Berlin that could be hired for a
Socialist meeting, all out-of-doors gath
erings being dispersed by the sabers of
the police.
When it was attempted to held meet
ings in this hall two burly police lieu
tenants invariably appeared on the plat
form, and with drawn swords sought for
some pretext to close the meeting, for
at their dictum no discussion was per-
mitted and the hall had to be vacated
Immediately. Such treatment was long
endured in patience, the Socialists pru-
IDENTIFY avoiding bloody heads and un-
necessary friction. The law still holds
today that no Socialist meeting can be
held in any state of the empire without
the presence of two or three police off
GERS in uniform, who, seated on the plat
form next to the speaker of the evening,
take stenographic notes of the substance
OF every speech. This has become often
no more than a form. however.
The Socialists now have able organs
among the press, but most of their edi-
tors have spent the greater part of their
lives in Jail. They have also ,365 sing
ing societies, who lose no occasion to
sing the Socialistic songs on every pub
lic occasion. The Socialists are also the
proprietors of many restaurants where
soldiers are permitted to enter, though
the army is strictly forbidden to pat
ronize such places. They have adopted
the great Irish invention of boycotting,
which they WELD with powerful effect.
Furthermore, out of the great fund of
the organization they have built So
cialist college, where their full proDa-
ganda is taught. They also own theaters
IN Berlin, Hamburg, Hanover and many
smaller towns Their theater in Berlin
seats 1900 people.
Thus Socialism, by avoiding violence,
and using such associative methods as
could not be suppressed, has become the
most powerful political party in Ger
many. 1t frequently dictates to the
reichstag and the other parties, not ex-
cepting the clericals, and even the impe-
rial party itself at times is glad to unite
its forces with it. At last Socialism has
orally become respectable
Herein is found lesson for the work
ingmen of the world. Avoid violence.
and trust entirely to social agencies, and
all the powers of truth cannot avail
against truth and justice