THE SOCIALISTS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VI, Issue 306, 28 February 1879, Page 11

THE SOCIALISTS.

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 as the " Social Democratic Marseillaise," or the " Song of the Petrolian" — the latter of which goes to the sprightly tune of " C'est la fille de M'ame Angot !" The five couplets are redolent of battle, murder and sudden death. This pleasing lay, so rife with promising suggestions, was enthusiastically sung by several hundred Germans of both sexes at a meeting held yesterday evening at the Hall of Industry in the Mariannen Strasse, in honour of the veteran Hasselmann, and obtained the compliment of a rapturous encore. Hasselmann had promised to gratify a select company of Communists with a brief dissertation upon " The PrinceChancellor as Advocate of Productive Associations, aided by the State." Loug 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, window sills, benches— in short, wherever they could secure a possible footing. The hero of the evening was greeted by rheering and clapping of hands that seemed as if it would come to an end ; and, as a matter of fact, twenty 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 fervour. 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 Bismaick's proposed experiments in the co-operative line into ridicule with considerable 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 Repressive Bill would rob the people of tbeir freedom and their rights, its inevitable consequence would be the triumphant developement of Social Democracy, to the confusion and overthrow of mere Liberalism.