Three years of world-revolution

Paul Lensch

Sujets

• Revolutions
• Europe
• Socialism
• World War

Informations

• Publié par: les_archives_du_savoir
• Nombre de lectures: 12
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 10 Mo

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HTHREE YEARS OF
WORLD-REVOLUTIONTHREE YEARS OF
WORLD-REVOLUTION
BY
.. ,
PAUL LENSCH
'
w , '
V .
MEMBER OF THE KEICiiS'i"A.j
" Wer die Welt den sieht nevernunftig ansieht,
auch beides 1st InvernUnftig an, Wechselbeziehung"
HEGEL.
LONDON
CONSTABLE & COMPANY LTD.
1918Pfert-nftT IN* *GWAT #RITAIN BY
RICHARD CLAY & SONS, LIMITED,
BRUNSWICK STAMFORD S.E.ST., ST., 1,
AND SUFFOLK.EUNOAY,PREFACE
As foreseen all serious students ofhad been by
German the German Socialist offeredaffairs, party
no serious to the German Governmentopposition
at the outbreak of war. The identi-subsequent
fication of the Socialists with enthusiasm for the
war and its aims was and was accen-inevitable,
onetuated German Afterby military triumphs.
and a half of war the had soyears process gone
far that Haase, Bernstein, Ledebour,Kautsky,
forced toand their little knot of adherents were
break A later were able to formaway. year they
"
the Social Democratic ofpartyIndependent
""
move-but even then theGermany," Minority
as it is to be at leastment, called, proved premature,
as an effective influence for and inter-pacifism
nationalism the main currents ofupon opinion
""
and action. The continued to domi-Majority
the wholenate German Socialism, seizing party
machine and and whetherPress, byco-operating
or a sometimes still more service-open support by
able the Germanof withappearance opposition
Government.
it is evident that the of the GermanNow, policy
vvi PREFACE
Socialist under the of Herrparty, leadership
Scheidemann and Herr a con-Ebert, imposed
siderable strain their followers. ofupon Many
them after a short and anhoped that, struggle
would be able to assume theirample victory, they
in the international none the worseplace camp,
and much the better for their bout ofperhaps
war. the official Socialist view hasHence been,
in that the war is an aneffect, episode, interrup-
" "
which some must end intion, day agreement
and of the old international relations.resumption
Meanwhile there was to be done but tonothing
in underencourage pacifism enemy countries, and,
cover of to for asuccess,military prepare peace
which would not look too at thecarefully origins
of the war. But all German Socialiststhough
are to the fruits of suchwilling enough reap oppor-
tunist the ablest minds in the havetactics, party
ceased to be content with what Lensch callslong
' '"a withoutpolicy political thought." They
desire to have done with outworn shams and
to the facts asface see notthem,hypocrisies, they
to admit but to their enthusiasm foronly justify
the war and a German and to afreshvictory, lay
the foundations of German Socialist thought.
The first of the new movement came fromsigns
the Trade whoseUnions, spokesmen openly adopted
materialist views of war and Forpurely peace.
"
a Trade Union War on LabourBook,example,
Interests and the Result of the was com-War,"