POVERTY TO POWER

Evening Star, Issue 15074, 4 January 1913, Page 8

POVERTY TO POWER

The career of August Bebel, the leader in the* German Reichstag of the Social Democratic party, is a remarkable illustration of the doctrine of regeneration through suffering. The story of his early struggles reads like a romance—a romance of a. hero fighting at fearful odds against " the whips and scorns of time, the oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely," and ultimately triumphing over all. Bebel was born under an unlucky star at Deutz Koeln in 1840. His father was a noncommissioned officer in the army, who learnt to loathe the profession of arms so much that on his death-bed he implored his wife not to dream of letting either of her two boys, of whom August was the elder, go to the Military Orphanage, because that involved, after completing their education, nine years' military service. The family were so poor, however, that tho mother was bound to set aside this dying wish of her husband. Fortunately, August was so delicate that he could not pass the doctor. Hence he was apprenticed to a turner, and had to work for 13 hours a day at the lathe for the.miserable pittance of eighteenpence a week. Stress of poverty induced his mother to marry her husband's brother, who had great faith in the power of the lash for the maintenance of youthful discipline. August's mother, of whom he speaks with admiration and affection', died of consumption before ho and his brother were in their teens. —Hard Times.— For years afterwards life for August passed but roughly. "What spare moments lie could snatch lie devoted to reading romances, which included ' Robinson Crusoe,' ' Uncle Tom's Cabin,' and Scott's novels. After completing_ his apprenticeship he tramped from city to city as a journeyman in search of work. Ultimately lie became

sufficiently skilled at his craft to be able to start as a master at Leipzig in a small way, but when lie became a political agitator ho was sometimes brought to the verge of bankruptcy by the loss of his best customers. Yet he never lost his head, his heart, or his hope. Though a rebel against dogma from his boyhood up, lie joined a Roman Catholic Union, whore, happily, there was no intolerance in respect of non-Catholic members. Hero he attended lectures and read books and periodicals. He speaks very highly of the young priests who controlled this I club, wit hwliom, ho says, he spent many a merry evening. After interest- [ ing experiences as seereary to workmen's organisations lie became acquainted with Liebknecht, who was 14 years his senior, and who greatly influenced him in his graduation as a Socialist. They became fast friends and co-workers in the Labor cause until their friendship was severed by Liebknecht's death. Of that grand old man .Bebel gives the following graphic sketch:—" Liebknecht's was the true fighter's temperament, supported by the unshakable optimism without which no great purpose can be achieved. No misfortune, whether private or affecting his party, ever for a moment dashed his spirits or disconcerted him. He could not be bluffed ; he could always find a way out of difficulties. The attacks of opponents he always met on th eprinciple that the correct move is always to go one better. Brusque and inconsiderate to opponents, he was always helpful to 1 friends and comrades, and always eager to smooth away their difficulties. In his private life he was a good husband j and father, and devoted to his family. He was a true lover of Nature. A I group of _ beautiful trees in otherwise unattractive surroundings would move him to enthusiasm, and persuade him that tho place was beautiful. He was a man of iron, but his heart I was the heart of a child." —Some Impressions.— I had tho honor a few years ago to take the chair at a banquet given in London to Liebknecht, Bebel's predecessor in the Reichstag, Jaures, leader of tho Socialist party in the French Chamber of Deputies, and Vendevelde, Parliamentary leader of tho Belgian Socialists. Liebknecht sat on my right and greatly charmed me by his conversation, gentleness, and wide information. He. spoke English well. I shall never forget the reception lie met with when ho rose to reply to the toast of his health. The guests included prominent representatives of various nations, kindreds, and tribes. All three deputies spoke eloquently against war. Liebknecht and Bebel were against the Prussian war with Austria in 1866, and refused to vote supplies to the German war with France in 1870. For this they suffered long terms of imprisonment, but the dungeon had no terror for either of them. Bebel doubts whether the German victories over tho French were beneficial to his own country. 'Speaking of war, Bebel says:—"My personal opinion is that for a people which is not free defeat is rather favorable than otherwise to its internal development. Victories result in a Government the reverse of democratic in type, haughty and exacting in quality, while reverses force the Government to approach tho people, and to win its good-will. Thus it was in Prussia after 1806-07, in Austria after 1866, in France after IS7O, and in Russia after the Japanese victories of 1904. The Russian Revolution would never have broken out except for the Russian losses. A few victories on the part of the Tsar's troops would have made it impossible for years to come. And although _ the Revolution failed, old Russia disappeared for ever, just as old Prussia disappeared after 1847-49. On the other hand, history tells us that when the peoples of Prussia had, at the cost of enormous sacrifices of blood and treasure, defeated tho first Napoleon's foreign tyranny and saved the dynasty from igno'minitv, the dynasty proceeded to forget all the fine promises it had made the people in the hour of danger. It was only in 1848 that the people at last obtained the payment of what had been justly due to it for decades. An ddid not Bismarck at a later date refuse all really Liberal demands in the North German Diet, acting, indeed, like a Dictator? Had Prussia boon defeated, would not the Ministry of Bismarck and the domination of the Junker party, which oppresses Germany to this dav, have been swept away together?" —The Born Leader.—■

Rebel is a born leader of men, as was Liebknecht before him. Ho'has tact, courage, eloquence, and his only ambition is to see the final triumph of the cause to which he lias devoted his life His courage rose to the height of sublimity when, alone in the Reichstag, amid the howls, execrations and shaking fists of that assembly he calmly looked Bismarck in the ' face and charged him with being the real instigator of the war witli France, though by lying and deceit lie succeeded In giving the world the impression that it was Louis Napoleon who provoked tho war.

Not that Rebel had am- respect for Napoleon, hut of the two C's?sars he thought Louis the loss guilty Bismarck had his revenge later on when, after Aobilrng-s attempt on the life of the old Emperor William, he carried the anti-Socialist law by givino- the Reichstag the impression 'that Nolnlinjr was a Socialist emissary. It was a he, as Bebel clearly proves, hut it served Bismarck's purpose for the time. J he darkest days of the German Labor movement now set in, but neither Bebel nor Liebknecht despaired of the cause for they knew that the longer they lay in prison the more elections would be won for their party. Bismarck's triumph was short-lived. Tlie anti-Socialist law would have created a revolution had it long; been enforced Bebel and Liebknecht will S o clown to history as the men who conquered Bismarck.—A. E. Fletcher, 'Daily Chronicle.