South Canterbury Times, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1881.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2706, 21 November 1881, Page 2

South Canterbury Times, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 21, 1881.

The new German Parliament embraces a number (sufficiently large to be formidable) of Socialist members. This is regarded on all sides with anxiety—more especially on the part of the Imperialists. The gigantic strides made by Germany under the bold leadership of Prince Bismarck, during the last twelve years, have conducted her to a very commanding position. For some years past her military organisation has been confessedly unequalled. The issue of the Pranco-Prussian war demonstrated in the most complete manner that Germany had reached the very summit of excellence in this respect. Her outward appearance has been striking and splendid. Her national dream of union was an accomplished fact. Her armies were perfectly organised and equipped and skilfully handled, and were composed of the flower of the nation. The campaign was for her a succession of brilliant triumphs. Vae vie tie was her battle cry, and expressed only too well her ruthless policy. But, regarding the movements of her armies as strategical feats—they were well planned and •plendidly executed ; and when the end came and she stood exulting above her crushed and bleeding foe. Europe trembled at the thought that this power of the future was now on her way to universal supremacy. Her naval resources were by the same master-haud over-hauled and set in order, and she even- turned her attention to the Pacific and to colonizing. The scattered limbs of the great tree came together and the German Empire was a tremendous power in the world. But even then, when her career seemed to promise a continuance of splendour, there were not lacking many who predicted that a power founded by military depotism could not endure. These dissenters asked what was to become of the internal resoui’ces, the trade, the commerce, the manufacturing and agricultural enterprise, while the country was feeding its armies from the very flower of its industrial population ; while her squadrons were shaking the earth in war, her industries more languishing.

The country was paying for her grandeur a terrible price, the price of her life-blood. The iron rule of Bismarck and the general enthusiasm repressed for a time any outbreak of feeling hostile to the Imperial policy and rule. But it was only for a time. Not only were the resources of the empire strained to their utmost, but she was menaced by a power within herself against which her armies were powerless. That power was Socialism. All the advocates of the rights of man, all the dreamers of liberty, fraternity, equality, were kindled into fierce life by armed tyranny, which in their sight was hateful beyond expression, and ever to be resented. From the universities these theories spread among the bulk of the people, and were adopted readily, until it became apparent that there existed, in the very midst of this great empire that had been raised by military despotism, a wide-spread and deeply rooted sentiment ef bitter hostility to the Government. The utmost severities that could be devised by the uncompromising Chancellor were unavailing; and to-day the very Legislature is full of the counsels of anti-Imperialists. What the immediate result will be it is impossible to predict. A conflict must ensue between the opposite principles of liberty and tyranny —and such a conflict cannot but be a serious one. In the end we cannot doubt which will prevail. Our only fear is that another step onward in human progress will not be made without disaster—that Germany, passing from the dark domain of tyranny to the light of freedom, will be tom by bloody feuds on her passage—that liberty will once again have to be bought with blood.