GERMAN SOCIALISM.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1387, 26 July 1878, Page 3

GERMAN SOCIALISM.

The following is an account of the socialist movement in Germany, as given by Deputy Richter in the German Parliament:—" As early as 1865 Herr Schultze-Delitsch, the founder of working men's savings banks, told Government in the Prussian House of Deputies that they had better not let loose the passions of the lower classes. If, he said, socialism was to be used as a political agency, tho time would come when the unchained monster would fly at their own throats. This warning was uttered in reply to Privy Councillor Wagener, the official adviser of Prince Bismarck on such mattors, threatening the Liberals in Parliament with what he termed the coming onslaught of working men battalions. This is the same Privy Councillor Wagener who as late as 1874, ' after his private dealings in joint-stock concerns ' had been exposed by Deputy Lasker, appeared at the socialist professors' congress at G-otha as the representative of Prince Bismarck. At the time of the military budget conflict between Crown and Parliament, Herr Wagener got up the Silesian weavers' deputations, who came to Berlin to complain of oppression endured at manufacturers' hands. These deputations employed to counteract middleclass influence were openly patronised by Prince Bismarck. One of them, headed by a weaver named Preuss, to this day an activo member of the Berlin Socialistic League, actually received 12,000 thalers of public money to establish a manufacturing association on Lassalle principles. The association of course went to the dogs, but the news of these facts spread far and wide, and caßt a slur upon the action of the Government. At a public trial Lassalle boldly asserted that

he rejoiced in the sympathies of the highest circles. After Lassalle's death Herr von Schweizer became the acknowledged leader of our socialists, and a connection was cemented between him and Herr Wagener. A wellknown Government paper invited a socialist leader to contribute articles upon socialism and communism, an incident not at all astonishing, if we remember that Schweizer, who established the first socialistic paper in Berlin, has been regarded by leading men of the socialist party as a tool and agent of the Government. It is impossible to deny that until 1872 socialism in Berlin was a plant artificially reared by subsidies. At any rate, the alliance and co-operation of the Government and socialistic papers up to that year was as perfect and efficient as could be. Worse than this, when in 1869 the socialists began the practice of breaking into Liberal meetings, and dissolving them by main force, the Home Office decided that the police were not to interfere unless the disturbances were continued in the streets. Thus Liberal meetings were left to be invaded by gangs of socialist rowdies. Assault and battery becoming thus the standing accompaniments of Liberal meetings, these gatherings were naturally discontinued. Only quite lately the police have changed their tactics, and again enabled Liberals to meet unmolested. Before this happy change the socialists were the only political party who practically possessed the right to hold meetings in the German capital. It is an undeniable fact that socialism did not exist here before Prince Bismarck came into office, and that his Cabinet has not a little contributed towards propagating it. Since 1872, however, when matters assumed so formidable an aspect, the Government, in my opinion, have had no part in the game."