Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-05-09
SOCIALIST PARTY
in BAD POSITION
Members Now Oppose War APP
preparations, After Voting
for First Ones.
MOTIVES ARE EXPLAINED
They Believe Start Should Be
Made for Peace in All Bellig-
erent Countries.
MOTIVES ARE EXPLAINED
BY FREDERICK WERNER.

less than thirty Socialist members OF
the Reichstag left the room in order
not to be obliged to vote on the new
appropriations. One of these, Herr Ed
ward Bernstein. with whom l had a
very interesting talk. explained to me
the motives that prompted him and his
fellow members TO abstain from voting.
He thinks that the question can now
no longer be postponed If there he not
a single voice who darcs speak up in
the name OF common sense and in favor
OF peace. For members of the govern
ment. he says. there are too many preju-
diccs which prevent them from taking
the initiative until they have either
conquered or been absolutely crushed.
and at the same time all the bourgeois
parties have surrendered uncondition-
ally to the God of Mars. The only
party that stands absolutely free and
unparalleled is the Socialists. and 1t
is their duty to act now courageously
and energetically.
THINKS ALL SOCIALISTS
WILL UNITE FOR PEACE
Herr Bernstein is firmly convinced
that IL the Socialists in any of the bel
iigerent countries will make the begin
ming their comrades in all the other
countries will follow suit
AS long as we continue to grant
new war appropriations to the Kaiser's
government we cannot wonder or feel
indignant because French and English
Socialists do the same thing" he said
But Is this really to continue indefi-
nitely? Must we see the beautiful
words Prolctarians of all countries
unite your forces changed into 'Prole-
tarians OF all countries shoot down one
another"
There are many circumstances which
| tend to give the peace tendencies advo-
Gated by Herr Bernstein greater
strength than at the beginning. The
first enthusiasm for the war has un-
doubtedly almost vanished everywhere
and great many people, also outside
the Socialist ranks, are anything but
pleased with the way the government
has handled the economic questions.
The way also in which the bourgeois
parties make use Of the political truce
10 refuse all democratic demands, like
the adjustment of privileged suffrage,
is worrying and annoying the Social
lists, who have faithfully kept their
promise and sacrificed their own inter-
ests during the war, but who are see
ing no sign that their patriotism will
be rewarded after the war.
An unbiased observer fully under
stands the growing dissatisfaction
within the party, but at the same time
one must admit that the leaders Of the
Socialist party are right when they
assert that rs long as the party voted
In favor of the first war appropriations
1t would be illogical not to continue
voting in favor of the new appropri-
atoms. undoubtedly necessary in order
to carry on the war.
Altogether. the present position of
the Socialist party is very difficult
one. While 1t is being torn by violent
dissensions within, 1t is plainly getting
Into stronger opposition with the con-
servative parties. many leading mem
bers OF which were sadly disappointed
when the Socialists voted In favor of
the first war appropriations. It would
have suited them far better to have
fought the Socialists to a finish under
unusually favorable conditions. The
Kaiser's beautiful words that from now
on he knew no parties are longer true.
The conviction is taking hold of
everybody here that the logical out
come of the present war and the only
will be the forming of all European
countries into the United States Of Eu-
rope Various German professors are
| continually pointing out how every
thing in evolution turns towards CO.
operation. The German empire as we'll
as the kingdom of Italy is due to this
centripetal tendency. as also the great
political alliances between Germany,
Austria and Italy on one side, and Eng
land. France and Russia on the other
IDEA is STRENGTHENED
BY "YELLOW PERIL FEAR
The idea of the United States of
Europe is strengthened under the i'm
preston of the yellow peril" which
has once more come into the fore
ground. because of Japan's appearance
on the International political stage
Against the objection, which Is gen
orally made, that the bitter hatred
among the nations aroused by the war
is likely to prevent the realization of
the idea the believers in the coming
of the United States of Europe argue
that the war has first of all proved
how absolutely dependent the Euro
pean nations are on one another. The
Napoleonic wars resulted in various
coalitions. in the creation OF new from
tiers. in the German customs union
and the holy alliance. and before the
present war is over. 1t shall have been
proved beyond any doubt how abso-
lutely necessary 1t is for the countries
of Europe to unite against the efforts
of other continents to secure world
hegemony.
America Is continually strengthening
herself and Japan Is making hay while
the sun Is shining. The European
| countries are eXhausting themselves.
and revealing how utterly dependent
they are on the grain supplies and
! foodstuffs of transoceanic countries
| When the fanatical hatred shall have
vanished. and when the lust of lighting
has been stilled, there will come
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