THE SOCIAISTS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 2, Issue 141, 23 April 1879, Page 2

THE SOCIAISTS.

A Berlin correspondent writes Socialist meetings are of the most sensational character. Sausage and beer are swallowed to the strains of" hymns," which would be far more appropriate to a festivity of witches and demons on the Brocken than to a convivial gathering of German Workmen.' If ghouls could sing in chorus they would probably select some such chant aB the " Social Democratic Marseillaise," or the "Song of the Petrolian"—the latter of which goes to the sprightly tune of "C'estlaiillede.M'ame Angot!" The five couplets are redolent of battle, murder, and sudden death. This pleasing lay, so rife mtli promising suggestions, was enthusiastically sung by several hundred Germans of both sexes, at a meeting held yesterday at the Hall of Industry in the Maiinnnen Strasse, in honor of the veteran Hasselman, and obtained the compliments of a rapturous encore. Hasselman had promised to gratify a select company of Communists with a brief dissertation upon " The Prince Chancellor as Advocate of Productive Associations, aided by the State." Long before the hour appointed for his appearance on the platform the localities were crowded to suffocation with eager, angry looking operatives, packed together like sardines in a tin, and perched on stoves, windowsills, benches—in short, wherever they could secure a possible footing. The hero of the evening was greeted by cheering and clapping of hands that seemed as if it would never come .to an end; and, as a matter of fact, 20 minutes of frantic uproar elapsed ere he could get a hearing. Men and women thronged about him, snatching at his hands and even coat-tails, and kissing them with passionate fervor. Many of those present shed tears, and completely lost outward control over their feelings. . The tribune's lecture was more temperate in tone and language than might have been anticipated. He turned Prince Bismarck's proposed experiments in the co-operative line into ridicule with considorable ingenuity; stated that Social Democracy could hold its own without the Chancellor's assistance, and assured his hearers in the most impressive manner that though the Kepressivo Bill would rob the people of.their freedom and their rights, its inevitable consequenco would be the triumphant development of Social Democracy, to the confusion' aud overthrow of mere liberalism,