Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-09-07
Socialist Fighting Socialist.


as all other divided groups are at the
amazing spectacle of this fratricidal
strife. German social democrats in one
army are fighting the socialists Of
France, Belgium and England in the
army of the allies. The question is a
fair one which the Times raises:
Where is the c1ass-conscious solidarity
of labor" However, it is only fair
to remember that the same question
arises at the sight of Christians in a
life-and-death struggle against Chris
tians, Protestants against Protestants.
Catholics against Catholics, the holy
Orthodox Greeks against the holy
Orthodox. in the same irrational strug-
gle.
There are reasons for doubling as
too hasty the conclusion Of the Times
that the class war Of socialism and
the international peace movement as
ISOLATED with it have evaporated and
are in process of collapsing altogeth-
err The onset Of this war was too
sudden and severe for anything to
deed. proved to be no exception
THE same night on which martial
law was proclaimed throughout Ger
many their seventy-nine newspapers
were suppressed. their clubs and unions
were not permitted to have another
meeting and some OF their members
were summarily shot for continuing
to protest against war.
"In France the foremost socialist,
Jaures. was killed by fanatical
derous deed by claiming to have rem
dered France q service in removing
the man who. in his consistent stand
for international peace, opposed the
measure for the three years Of military
service.
The Workers Protest.
.'In the face Of this rising tide Of pas
sion and the far more perilous military
held meetings and made public demon
strations in protest against the impend-
ing war at Weimar. Stuttgart, Strassburg
and Berlin until "a state of war" and
martial law were proclaimed. To be
did the early Christians in their stand
against the Caesars. Neither did the
heirs OF those martyrs protesting to fol-
low the Prince Of Peace in any of the
warning nations. On the contrary, So
cialists certainly became opportunists, as
did the adherents Of every other out
standing cause or sect, party or faction.
THE French are led to war by a
premier who had been a leader in the
socialist party. upon whose arms the
she followed her husbands body to the
grave Another socialist leader. NJ.
Hurve, who had even advised French SOL
diers to desert in case of war, himself
applied to enlist under the colors-
i 1.-THE Confederation Generate du Ira
vail, corresponding to the American Fed
Grafton of Labor. issued an appeal to all
trade unionists to Join in the defense OF
France. AL these apparently self-stulti-
tying attitudes and actions are extenu-
ated by the hope that the war will break
up the German monarchy and thus be the
first step toward the United States OF
Europe
ular socialist leader in Belgium, at the
violation Of the neutrality Of his coun-
try by the German invasion. consented
and conservative party. which he had al
ways opposed. Even Peter Kropotkin,
prince OF Russia, exiled, because of his
lanarchistic belief. from his refuge in
] England, declares his loyalty to his peo-
pic In their war. which has already
brought from the autocracy assurances
Of more liberty to Poland and Finland