The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1909-11-23

ihN op-
preclatlon of the facts in the European
"orklng-class situation. with the re-
suit that usually all have expressed
themselves IN agreement with it's sub
stantlal truth. In brief, I give it here
with.
First in order. both in importance
and in the march Of events. IS the fact
OF the solidarity today in the senti-
ment Of the masses of Europe. They
feel that great social changes must
come soon; that the curtain has been
rung down on the human comedy of
government by. Of, and for the classes:
hat the day Of democracy is at hand,
and that the struggle Of the toilers for
their own, shall take precedence Of
those wars between nations which
mean battles between WOrkingmen
without cause. The grade Of educa-
tiona already obtained by the millions
for the first time in European history
IS having it's results in producing hosts
Of men in the deprived classes, capa-
Die of knowing their rights and de-
tending them. The indefinite cry of
"Workingmen Of All Countries Unite!"
has been followed by the query, "On
what basis?' evoking the answer, "On
the sentiment of Brotherhood Hence,
IN the presence Of an event such as
the execution Of Ferrer, differences
or party Platforms, Of social philoso-
phles, are sunk and agreements acted
upon in ~sympathies. The various reso-
lutions Of the International ~Secretariat
on questions Outstripping national
are supported by social
lists, anarchists, trade u%nionists and
progressives; in general, by men of va
riOuS faiths as we'll as by those of no
faith; the churches Of every denom-
ination are invited to act solely with
in their proper SPHERE, the anti-mili-
tary feeling in its undercurrent is d.
retced rather against the prOmpterS Of
human fra fTIri6a than AGAINST a ma
tional patriotism and the essentials
OF national defense. ioal
hIack-leEgig has become a rues-
tor for universal trade union
activity instead of continued in
citation to inter-racial ha+reds.
The masses in all countries Of
Europe now unfettered from svrf-
dom's ignorance, have enlarged their
mental horizon, become sympathetic
with all who suffer like themselves,
no matter where nature has cast their
lot, and have been thrown into a state
of social unrest which only a general
uplifting of their entire stratum of so
ciety can terminate.
Certain general forms of activity
and public manifestation by social agi-
tators, which only twenty years g
were vigorously depressed, abe now
tolerated by the governments OF
Europe. Compulsion Is Frequently ex~
erted upon authority instead Of upon
it's opponents. Men in Austria who
formerly were sent to jail for their
democratic teachings are now sent to
the R~eichstag to give their utteTdnces.
Emblems of the peoples aspirations,
once forbidden in public places, are
now carried daily in professions. Both
Belgium and Austria nave seen gen
eral strikes that extended the suf-
frage to large masses Of the wage
workers. The recent national strike
~ Cr-a1nr aila3 nv the la hOr OyO3 n -
izations of all Europe besides serving
to correct abuses of power by en-
ployers, FASTENED the general inter
national unity of the workers. 1t is
remarkable that nearly every mon
arch in Europe at present seeks the
reputation of being a social refOrmer.
Fol- recent positive and definite
gains to the masses the observer must
especially take account of trade union
achievement. Few are the industrial
communities on the continent in which
labor organization on the English
American system has not had q mar
velous development during the last
ten years. Germany has led. 1t now
counts a solid trade union nlenber-
ship Of over 10000 coo. The profess
sional sociologIst, long in the habit OF
echoing the observation of their pre-
decesSors of twenty or thirty years
ago hat the German workingman
turned to politics where the English
or American went into trade union,
has recently discovered that what is
really being dCne in Germany is prac-
teal work for the wage-workers is
directed from trade union "centeTs.'
The new. massive administrative
buildings Of the unions in Berlin,
Hamburg, Munich and Cologne, as ex-
arnples, are striking material evil
dences Of the wealth, power and en-
ergy now possessed by the u~nionists-
In these letters Illustrations have
already been given of the advances of
wages and leSsening Of the hours Of
work enforced by the united working
men of Germany. BY the tourist one
Of the general effects of unionism
is seen in the general closing of shops
- nornaan -citiGS on SUNDAYS AID at