THE REVOLUTIONARY AGE November 30, 1918 Revolutionary Socialism in Germany maxscs By Karl Liebknecht WHAT was the meaning of March 24, 1916. The of conflicts and decisions is damined by the events eighteen delegates who finally decided on Deon March 1th. In the turmoil of a world war all cember 21, 1915, to vote against the first war creINTRODUCTION compromising breaks miserably together. Whodit, voted on March 24th openly against the pro Karl Licliknecht was sent to prison by the govever tries to move around between warring armics posed special war budget. While in December ernment of the Kaiser for four and one half years will be shot from both sides, unless he saves his Released they issued a declaration. they now gave the because of propaganda against the war.
from prison by the Revolution, Liebknecht is now life in time by joining olic party or the other, motives for their vote in a speech. The content the dynamic individual expression of the Revol where, however, he will be received not as a hero, ution.
of this speech, however, did not go beyond the On August 4, 1914, the representatives of the Socbut as a fugitive. The way of the cighteen was declaration of December. Even the excuse that ial Democratic Party in the Reichstag, speaking a round about way, and not a pleasant onc either.
through their official spokesman liugo linase, apGermany was safe against invasion was again proved and voted for the first war credit.
On the Not one advantage worth while to a serious man brought forward. What was it then that caused second creclit, Karl Lichknecht voted No! On in this serious period has been gained by this a sensation on March 24th? It was the wild upDecember 21, 1915, sighteen Social Democratic re.
presentatives the lasse Ledelour Group, voted delay.
roar of the Socialist majority, together with the against the fifth war credit, and on March 21, 1916 they voted against a special credit. This cre The masses were ripe for the test alrcady at bourgeois parties, the infamous attitude of the ated president, the expulsion of the eighteen from the Socin Klorm, the eighteen were expelled from the the beginning of the war. They would not have Democratic Party.
Many Socialists considered that these eighteen refailed. The only result of the hesitation and official party parliamentary group. But in this piexrnted revolutionary Socinlism, that they voted doubt has been the strengthening of poisonous opaction, the eighteen were object and not subagainst the war becuuse of revolutionary convictions. This was not the fact, As Karl Licbknecht portunism.
ject. this action was forced upon them and they makes amply clear in this article to the comrades, disliked a rupture so much, that they tried their written after March 21, almost two years ago.
Clear cut principlex, uncompromising fighting, The eighteen of the lanse 1edchour group subbest to avoid, still in January 1916, an open break scquently organized the Independent Socialist Party, whole hearted decision. with the treacherous majority, as well as tumul. This party was neither one thing nor the other; it was against the war, but not on definite Socialist tuous scenes against bourgeois parties. And even Uncompromising Socialist action against the issues; it wanted to go back to the days before Aug.
now on March 24, 1916, they play the part of ust 4, instead of forward to the new tactics and the war, against those who caused it, who profit by offended innocence rather than that showing new Internntionnl. Lichknecht and other revol. it, who want to continue to support the war!
utionary Socinlists in Germany attacked this party: the clenched fist of rebelion.
and today the Independent Socialist Party, hy its Also against the supporters of those who slander wavering and essentially counter revolutionary pol the name of Social Democrats. Against the policy What then, is the meaning of March 24th? icy, is confirming the annlysis Lielknecht makes in this article of their tendency. The intellectunl exof the majority, against the National Committee true opinion can only be formed in connection pression of this party in Karl Kautsky, the moderate and the Exccutive Committee of the party, against with the general situation. The new Arbeits ge and compromiser, the man who manufactured one the Central Committee of the labor unions and all meinschaft are the same eighteen, the neither theoretical justification after another for the Soc.
Democratic Party abandonment of Socialist instances of the party and the unions that carry flesh nor fish policy of whom proved a failure principles, the man who declared four years ago that all Socialists were justified in supporting their this treacherous policy. To counteract this policy in December and again in the submarine issue on governments since all nations were on the defensive.
with all means is now the main issue of the war March 22nd, and again in the discussions March This article of Liel. knechti is an historie document against war.
and deserves the serious study of every Socialist.
struggle to gain the majority 23rd. Could you expect the lambs of yesterday to against the party, misrepresented by the demabecome all of a sudden lions. gogues of the majority. struggle for deJust now the so called losen blaetter (loose of the war political situation, and a fight for pomocracy in the party, for the rights of leaflets) are published by comrades affiliated with litical power in home policy, in which the scene the of the comrades, ngainst the the group of the eighteen. These leaflets do not was carefully prepared to stage Bethman Hollweg failing and treacherous Jenders, who form even merition the important fundamental prob as a liberal and moderate Imperialist, in order to the main supporters of the war. Against lems which are at stake. Direct taxes instead of faciliate the treacherous policy of the lenders of all of those who in peace time have played into indirect ones is about the highest wisdom of the the party and labor unions. The delegate of the the hands of militarism by oppasing mass action program on taxation of the eighteen in the midst eighteen even went so far as to advocate again in favor of law and order, and who now hang of the world war! They do not show any deeper the abolition of the right of confiscation, to attack around in the waiting rooms of the army headinsight into the problem taxation. They do not the English capitalists instead of the German quarters and the imperiul ministers.
even see, as was stated in the resolution of the Government at a moment in which this lntter Now is the moment to throw away all formal Convention in Chemnitz, that direct taxes can Government capitulated before the most unscru considerations. The party machinery is used ever as well be saddled upon the masses and that the pulous war fanatics and needed the most energe. more and more without scruple by the bureau.
decision as to what part of the burden will rest tic opposition. This policy means a continuance crats to enforce their policy, Autocratic decisions on each class, finally is a problem of political po of the Baralong policy of Ledebour on January are standard feature in the party. After the wer, not a problem of tax reform; that it depends 15th.
methods of von Puttkamer, power is used to force upon the political and economical situation as a Whether all of the eighteen and all of the offithe opposition, the mennest methods of Prussianwhole, the tax policy being an organic part of the cial opposition in Berlin accept the responsibility Russian police brutality are used by the party general policy. They do not even see, that the best possible direct tax on top of a system of infor the loose leaflets and the policy of their de leaders against the minority. The independence direct taxes may easily become a fig leaf of the legates or not a group, leaders of which express of the party press is disregarded with growing system and a barrier against a thorough reorgansuch opinions, are very far from a policy on prin. brutality by the so called party majority. Even the censorship of martial law is beaten by the ization of the system of indirect taxes. Under ciples, although they may claim so loudly. The clocile scholars of the military terror of the official the headling How long will it last. the loose formal combination of all kinds of indefinite oppo.
leaflets of the eighteen talk about war in senti sitional feelings and motives is always a great Socialist party. War gainst this party all along mental language, without saying a word about danger, especially so in a time of world changes. the line, to conquer the party for the party! War the imperialistic causes of the war. The war is This means confusion and dragging along on old against the traitors and usurpers, who must be considered due to stupidity of the rulers! They lines, it sterilizes and kills the militant elements, driven from their jobs and mandates Inden with give as highest wisdom the theory that Imperial which get into this mixed company. What must the disgust of the workers. Reconquering of the party from the bottom ism has led to a deadlock out of which the Gov. be the conclusion from all this?
ernments cannot find an escape, so that they need The warning against uncritical overestimating up through revolt of the masses, who will have the advice of the loose leaflets. a pitiable mix of the action of the eighteen and of the events on to take their organization into their own hands!
March 24th. The warning, to keep your eyes Not only words, but deeds! Away with all doubt open, not to forget that if we should join the and cowardice! Away with compromise and a poAnd what about the stand of the Arbeits ge eighteen unconditionally, this would mean the sur licy of the swamp! Away with half friends, feeble meinschaft in the first test in the Budget commit. est way to make the new group a shield to cover mindedness and sentimentalists! Those are out tee?
Two days prior to the explosion, this group the governmental policy, and to make the 24th of of place where the light is heart against heart.
did not take any decisive stand on the submarine issue. Now the delegate in the Budget committee has already become a ghostly historic event. In March a mere phantom, just as December 21st The struggle for a decision in the party is on! It must be fought without any consideration for the argued, on humanitarian declarations about the so far as March 24th means progress, this is to sacrilegists, the traitors, the deserters from Sohorror the war, against the sinking of vessels without warning. No understanding was shown of all half heartedness; it confirms the efficiency a great extent due to the uncompromising critics cialism.
that the submarine issue is first of all decided by To the present system of party politics, not a of these critics on the strenghtening of the oppothe ultimate aim of the war, as the result of a man and not a cent, but a fight to a finish. Those sitional spirit.
struggle of groups of capitalists for the control who are not with us in this fight will be considerof the war policy according to the sharpening The tactic of endless consideration and avoiding ed against us!
up indeed!