New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-14
Emile VanderVelde Sure
End Will Be Victory for
the Masses.
DEFENDS COURSE OF
COMRADES IN ARMS
Destruction of Prussian Mill
tarism First Step in On
ward March.

triumph VI NoClhl uSIHOCEhcy, says the
Belgian leader Of the Socialist Party,
Emile Nandcrvelde, now in New York
on his way to Washington. This first
Socialist member of any cabinet has
been appointed by King Albert to join
the delegation of Belgian statesmen
who are to present to President Wilson
the Belgian governments atrocity
charges against the German soldiery.
When asked about the reasons for
the stand the Socialists OF all the war
ring countries have taker in the pres
Cnt conflict, Mr.. Nandervelde was
ready TO explains:
"In Belgium and in France the sit
uation is clear. We have been at
tackled, our territory has been violated
BIS hostile armies, we are in a case OF
legitimate defence. Taking up arms
in such case is in perfect accordance
with the principles Of Socialism. In
tsInGtionalism and the brotherhood OF
all men are ideals, but as long As We
fail to make our neighborS accept them,
we are absolutely justified in offering
the most strenuous resistance TO
force that assaults and tries to over
power us
ain England, the position Of our
comrades is somewhat different. Eng
land is not, strictly speaking, in a
state of legitimate defence. She has
taken up the fight voluntarily, in or
der to stand by her agreements with
France. and especially to defend Bel
gisn neutrality. No doubt also be-
cause Germany victorious would dis
pute more vigorously her own SUI
prCmacy on the sea and endanger her
overseas commerce. Therefore keir
IIardie and other leaders of the Labor
Party which is really the Socialist
Party modified to suit the practical
English temperament, which refuses to
deal with theories have held out long
and consciously against the govern
mcnt's decision to join in the Euro
pcan conflict. Their apparently lesser
patriotism is rooted in their faithful
ress to socialistic principles.
Hard Problem in Germany.
German Socialists have had TO face
the hardest problem, and ] confess, If
we're a German | do not know how
] would have solved it fer myself.
They have had to choose between two
evils Prussian militarism and Russian
Czarism. They themselves being OF
German blood they would naturally be
inclined to eNaggerate the danger OF
the latter. Deputy Haase summed the
situation up in his speech in the
Rcichstug when he said that whatever
side the German Socialists might
choose TO take they would have TO be
with one great evil against another.
The Germans have affirmed time and
again their brotherly feelings toward
their comrades in France. But these
arc now lighting hand in hand with
the Slavs. Helping France would have
meant to bring the Russians to Berlin,
ard bad as the Kaiser's government
may be, it frightens our German com
.aGcs less chan Czarsm does. That Is
WIN the Socialist members of the
Reichstsg have voted the military
budget-to keep the Russian foe QUE
of the land. That is why Haase has
urged the Socialists TO support the
government in the present struggle;
why Liebknecht has enlisted why Lud-
Wig Frank went to the front and was
killed"
Don't you think" it was suggested.
chat the stronger reason which has
impelled all those internationalists TO
follow the flag of their country was an
outburst of inborn, primitive, unreas-
oning patriotism. an impulse so power
full that il overruled all other ideals
and theories when their country's hour
Of need had come
Without doubt there was much OF
that, but wish you to believe that 1t
is not irreconcilable with our ideals
and theories. |, for my part, can sec
no other way to be true to these than
10 give all my efforts. all tie infrenc"
I NAV have to the support Of my coun-
try"
ITO your country, yes. But to It's
bourgeois government 49,,
Mr.. Vandervelde WINGED a little.
This is no time to oppose the gov
eminent. We Belgians are all united
in one desire to save Belgium and her
independence. When seat in the
Cabinet was offered me accepted 1t
without hesitation. as my comrades
Marcel Sembat and Jules Guesde, have
done in France. There is no room TO"
party feeling at present We arc all
working for the ideals Of democracy
against the threatening spectre OF
Prussian militarism.'
War to End Militarism.
Gin short. militarism has gone
into actual warfare against ml!itarlSm.
l. that it,
"Eyactlv. 50 that the backbone OF
the old regime may be broken and the
new era may approach with greater
strides"
"What OF the socialistic project Of
general strike in case OF war;
"That project has never had ma
iority at any of our conventions. and
II the congress of Vienna could have
taken place last month there IS no
doubt but that it would have been re-
jected.'
ciaI democracy in Europe, in case Ger
many is beaten by the Allies ,"
"Nlost decidedly II Germahy
is beaten! | am not prophet and
dc not know what the outcome Of the
var will be But / can say this much:
sincerely hope that this war VIII
deal the deathstroke to Prussian mill
tar:sm. That has been the great OBJ
stacle in the way of demo cracy. When
that is overcome we may have to hght
another battle against Czarism
who can tell? But in the end tine
democracy will have to triumph, and
it will.
understand me rightly. | do not
mean democracy such as il is being
rractised now in radical France or in
this country. The Democratic party
here why, 1t Is only plutOcracy
in disguise; the reign of money, not the
reign Of the people! What we are
aiming at and lighting for is a true
social democracy