New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-04-12
POLITICAL REFORM
DEMAND REVIVES
Peace Strength Increases and
Signs Appear of Old Rev.
dictionary Spirit.
BY GORDON GORDON.sMITH.

every kind and in every country that
their "Kamaraden" all over Europe
counted on its powerful aid TO prevent
an outbreak OF war.
Then came the "cold douche." Not
only did the party make no protest
against the war, but, with the single
exception OF Or. Karl Liebknecht, the
Socialist members of the Reichstag
voted the necessary credits. The ia
cility with which the enormous national
force which the German Socialists un-
doubtedly represented at the first sig
nal went back" on all the principles
which they had hitherto defended will
remain one of the problems which will
furnish subject for discussion for many
q day TO come.
The explanation may perhaps be
found in the fact that the German So
cialists were subjected to the same
methods and the same discipline as the
German. army. No individual indepen-
dence was allowed in the one any more
given the whole mass must obey with
out question. The flock was so well
trained that when il changed shepherds
it did not even notice the fact.
Annihilation of the Individual.
The superiority of training and this
humiliation of all individual will is
the characteristic feature of modern
Germany. In it the country sees its
superiority over all other states. 1t
has made it sort Of apostolate. 1t is
the conviction that allowed one of its
statesmen TO declare: Europe is not
yet organized; it is for Germany TO
organize it,"
But the whirligig Of time brings
its revenges. The present situation in
Germany is a fresh proof of the pro
verb that extremes meet" No country
ever resisted the demands of the pro-
letariat with more energy than the
German military state, and now it has
stolen the thunder" Of the Socialist
party We now have the spectacle of
a protectionst state organization
pushed TO such a point that il reaches
collectivsm, much as il was enunci-
ated by Karl Marx. II is more than
probable that the German Socialists
ere obscurely conscious that, thanks 10
the present war, the government is
working in the same direction as
themselves. II may be this knowledge
that renders them more subservient to
its behests.
For what are the measures which the
German state is taking to-day in view
Ct the coming economic war but the
realization Of the doctrines of Karl
Marx?
! doubt if VI. Jules Guesde, to-day
member of the French Cabinet and SON
in-law of the Great German socialist,
ever expected that the government of
the Kaiser would be the first TO apply
the theories of his father-in-law.
The requisition OF bread stuffs and
meat, the fixing of maximum prices, the
methodical rationing of the populace,
etc, is nothing else than an antici-
pated realization of the collectivist
programme. The individual is being
absorbed in the community. Every one
according TO his force and every one
according to his needs"
Influence of the Leaders.
The influence of DR.. Karl Liebknecht,
Frau Rosa Luxembourg and the other
dissidents, against whom the official
chiefs Of the party have pronounced
communication, is greater with the
masses than the leaders care TO admit.
They are now forced to count with this
new current of public opinion. Up to
now they pretended to regard the pro-
testation Of DR.. Liebknecht in the
Reichstag against the vote of the war
credits (Which no German newspaper
was allowed 10 PRINT as a mere state
ment Of his personal views.
This fact renders the recent declara-
ton made in the Prussian Diet by Herr
Hirsch, who took caro- to state that he
spoke In the name of the Socialist
group" It is needless TO say that the
Wolff Agency sent out a most garbled
report Of his utterances. 1t is for this
reason that II may be as well to give
them a wider publicity.
"In October Of last year." declared
Herr Hirsch, eve expressed the hope
and the ardent desire that an end
should be made seon to this horrible
war, in which the nations are mutually
massacring one another To our great
regret, this hope has not been realized.
But we know that this war is not de-
sired by the people of any of the bel
ligerent states applause on the Left
of the House,, that everywhere the
people desire TO see il come TO an end
Applause from the Socialist benches).
We have the assurance that in all the
belligerent states the number of those
in favor of peace is becoming greater
and greater, and that they will be able
TO make themselves heard in high
quarters, and that. under the influence
of the laboring classes in all the coun-
tries. peace will be shortly assured
for the salvation of the German people
and humanity at large"
Agitation for Peace.
The commencement of the Socialist
agitation in favor OF peace is accom-
panied by revival Of the political &C.
tivity of the party. Just before the
war a violent campaign had been be-
qua for the reform of the Prussian
electoral system, which assures the
preponderance of the "junker" party
in the Diet. At the beginning Of his
speech Herr Hirsch declared that the
Socialist party maintains all its po-
ltical demands, that it protested
against the repressive police measures
taken by the government, and that it
would continue the struggle against all
the obstacles placed in the way Of a
free expression of public opinion.
The German government makes con-
tinual appeals for national unity and
the solidarity of the German people
But II is becoming clear that a large
proportion OF the proletariat refuses to
be satisfied with the doubtful honor of
being sent to be massacred on the from
tier, and refuses any longer 10 be treat
ed as an Inferior part of the popula-
ton and deprived of all political rights
Events may even take such a turn as
will lead to revival in Prussia Of the
revolutionary spirit. which seemed def
nitely crushed in lS4S. OF course,
these aspirations can at present re-