New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-11-26
Under the Kaiser's Thumb
Socialists Wherever They Appear Are
Serving Germany
To the Editor of The Tribune.

10 the EDITOR OF L ne ilApui''
Sir: Socialists are supposed to be followers
OF cult founded in Germany by the orlei
nator OF the internatonalist theory, Mar
Marx. This idea has been furthered py 'he
Kaiser-not according 70 MARKS preaching
against war and conquest, but by the medi@V"i
practice Of just such barbaric methods a. up
TO the conquest of Asace-Lorralne had sue
ceeded 70 such an extent for the German peo-
pic, that the fundamental ideas of Marx
socialism were forgotten and its followers
merely maintained the name socialism, by
which they have been aiding autocracy to Ger
MAMIE the world-a very ingenious way 10
"liberalzo," which only Teutonic mind could
twist out of the original idea that was Gre
ated in Marks mind!
After parties had been organized all over
the world, supposedly on Marks theories
those branches were ruled from headquarters
in Germany, until it was found out that Ger
man socialism, as far as internationallsm was
concerned, meant exactly what Marx had been
fighting aganst-"right by might" Thus
came split, but the organizations in the diff
ferent countries outside of Germany main
tanned the party name-and so have those
men who now are opposed. to Hillquit and
who call themselves American Socialists.
What are they? They are against the
German method of Observation-Disclosures
but so is our democracy. They are in favor
of organized labor, and so is our democracy,
which has established labor unions without
any special aid from the Socialists And
whatever else socialism demands for the sake
Il p
tanly has shown its willingness to consider
and to aid.
The Socialists in Germany will perhaps
never admit that they have been traitors TO
Marx and that they are as much autocrats
as the Kaiser is. But when socialism thus
has been exposed, and our American So
cialists are in accord with our government
concerning the raising of funds and armies
with the purpose Of fighting for democracy
against German "internatonalism' on what
grounds do Messrs. Walling, Russell and
Stokes still call themselves Socialists? what
is american" socialism?
Marx was a Teuton, and if he had lived
to-day who knows why not also he, as good
German, should have fallen in with the
Kaiser, the genius who so practically" has
shown to Socialists, his subjects, the road to
"internationaism"? Our American" Social
lists could have benefited democracy far more,
thus if they had remained plain democrats,
as they ought to see themselves that IN
joining German Social Democracy their
activities have much benefited autocracy and
very little democracy.
Compromise is now impossible Socialist
is an enemy of democracy; we are fighting
autocracy: how can those who are willing to
aid US against our common enemy call them
selves Socialists essrs. Walling, Russell
Stokes ct al? 1t might be excusable for ma
tions like Sweden and Denmark to study de
mocracy in Germany, but why Americans
should have done so is beyond my under
standing. | hope they keenly feel the de-
cepton and will be satisfied TO leave good
enough alone like true democrats should.
We have just seen how German socialism
has worked out the scheme in Russia. The
same Socialist leaders-whose real names are
German-have also worked the same scheme
in Finland, and the Kaiser could not have
had better aids in his plans for Mittel-
europa. The Firms will surely be glad to
receive one of the Kaiser's sons as their king.
Sweden, Norway and Denmark will then be
lined up, and however they compromise mat
ters Of independence" the Kaiser will be
the head Of it all-and German socialism
united" the peoples!
We ought to rejoice in the overwhelming
majority of loyal citizens-plan democrats
will still rule our democracy. But what, and
why, are american" Socialists?
ERNST BYSTROM.
Brooklyn, Nov. 10, 1917.