The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1915-05-19
But Are Epcountering
Many Prejudices.
MEET WITH MUCH ANNOYANCE
From Bourge0isie Parties.
But Have Faithfully Kept
Their Promise.
PRESENT POSITION DIFFICULT

appropriations Is gradually increas-
ing. The fact first became evident
when no less than thirty Socialist
mem bers of the Reichstag left the
room in order not to be obligated to
vote on the new appropriations. One
of these, Herr Eduard Bernstein,
explained the motives that prompted
him and his fellow members to alb
stain from voting.
He thinks that the question can
now no longer be postponed If there
be not a single voice That dares
speak up in the name of common
sense and in favor of peace. For
members of the governments, he
says, there are too many prejudices
which prevent them from taking
the initiative until they have either
conquered or been absolutely crush
| futeiy- free and unprejudiced are the
bourgeois parties have surrendered
Internationally to the god of Mars.
The only party that stands abso-
lutely free and unprecedented is the
Socialists, and it is their duty to act
now courageously and theoretically.
Herr Bernstein is firmly convinc-
ed that if the Socialists in any of
the belligerent countries will make
the beginning, their comrades in all
the other countries will follow suit.
las long as we continue to grant
new war appropriations to the Kai-
ser's government, we can not Won
der or feel indignant because French
and English Socialists do the same
thing" he said. But is this really
to continue indefinitely? Must We
see the beautiful words. 'Proleta-
rians of all countries, unite your
forces changed into, 'Proletarians
of all countries. shoot down one an
other?'"
There are many circumstances
which tend to give the peace ten
denotes advocated by Herr Bern
stein greater strength than at the
beginning. The first enthusiasm for
the war has undoubtedly almost
vanished everywhere and a great
many people, also outside the So
cialist ranks, are anything but
pleased with the way the govern
ment has handled the economic
questions.
The way in which the bourgeoisie
parties make use of the political
truce to refuse all democratic de-
mands, like the adjustment of
privileged suffrage, is worrying and
annoying the Socialists, who have
faithfully kept their promise and
sacrificed their own interests during
the war. but who are seeing no sign
that their patriotism will be re-
warded after the war.
An unbiased observer fully un-
derstands the growing dissatisfac-
tion within the party but at the
same time one must admit that the
leaders of the Socialist party are
right when they assert that as long
as the party voted in favor of the
first war appropriations it would be
illogical not to continue voting In
favor of the new appropriations, un-
doubtedly necessary in order to car
ry on the war.
Altogether the present position
of the Socialist party is very diff
ficult one. While 1t is being torn
by violent discussions within, 1t is
plainly getting into stronger opposi-
ton with the conservative parties,
many leading members of which
were sadly disappointed when the
Socialists voted in favor Of the first
war appropriations. 1t would have
suited them far better to have
fought the Socialists to a finish un-
der unusually favorable conditions.
The Kaiser's beautiful words that
from now on he knew no parties.
are no longer true. W
The conviction is taking hold of
everybody here that the logical out
come Of the present war and the
only solution which will prevent an
other will be the forming of all Eu-
ropean countries into the United
States of Europe. Various German
professors are continually pointing
out how everything In evolution
turns towards cooperation. The
German empire as well az the king
dom OF Italy lie due to this centripe-
tai tendency as also the great polit-
ical alliances between Germany.
Austria and Italy on one side and
England. France and Russia on the
other.
America is continually strength
ening herself and Japan u making