THE SOCIALISTS IN GERMANY.

Globe, Volume IX, Issue 1356, 19 June 1878, Page 3

THE SOCIALISTS IN GERMANY.

In the “ Times of the 22nd of March an incident is related which gives some idea of the strength which the socialistic movement has attained in Germany. This is it: — On the 10th of March a local leader of the Socialists in Berlin was buried. He had not been much known to the public, but had worked enthusiastically in spreading Socialistic opinions by his personal influence. He iyas simply the foremipi in a printing house established by his political friends, and had often acted as secretary of the Socialistic Electioneering Committee. No fewer, however, than 10,000 Socialists followed his body to the grave, and the conduct of this large assemblage was even more significant than its numbers. They were ostentatious in demonstrating that it was not merely personal regard to the dead which brought them together, and that they wished to manifest their revolt against the prevalent faith and the existing principles of social order. There was not one among them but wore some revolutionary badge. The men wore red ribands or red flowers, and the women red scarfs; and even little children displayed the same ominous color. There was no expression of solemn or (even serious feelings in the crowd. It was a reckless procession, and its members turned aside from time to time into beer-houses, and smoked as they followed the corpse. In this spirit they reached at length the cemetery of “the Free Congregation,” the gate of which bears the inscription, “ There is no hereafter, and no meeting again.” A few speeches were then delivered over the grave, in which the dead man, for ever passed away, was eulogised for his labors on behalf of his brethren, but in which ho was also particularly commended for being a “good hater.” All Socialists were exhorted to follow his example in this respect, and the assemblage applauded with a general cry of “we swear.” A woman closed the proceedings with an address, in which she declared that the Proletariate had the fate of the universe in their hands, if they would unite for a common purpose.