CHAPTER V.
But Czarism! in the first moments of the war this was undoubtedly the factor that decided the position of our party. In its declaration, the social-democratic group had given the slogan: Against Czarism! And out of this the socialist press has made a fight for European culture.
The Frankfurter Volksstimme wrote on July 31:
"The German Social-Democracy has always hated Czardom as the bloody guardian of European reaction: From the time that Marx and Engels followed, with far-seeing eyes, every movement of this barbarian government, down to the present day, where its prisons are filled with political prisoners, and yet it trembles before every labor movement. The time has come when we must square accounts with these terrible scoundrels, under the German flag of war."
The Pfaelzische Post of Ludwighafen wrote on the same day:
"This is a principle that was first established by our August Bebel. This is the struggle of civilization against barbarism, and in this struggle the proletariat will do its share."
The Muenchener Post of August 1st:
"When it comes to defending our country against the bloody Czardom we will not be made citizens of the second class."
The Halle Volksblatt wrote on August 5th:
"If this is so, if we have been attacked by Russia, and everything seems to corroborate this statement—then the Social-Democracy, as a matter of course, must vote in favor of all means of defense. With all our strength we must fight to drive Czarism from our country!"
And on August 18th:
"Now that the die is cast in favor of the sword, it is not only
