“But my protest is against the war, against
those who are responsible for it, against those who
direct it; it is against the capitalist policy which
gave it birth; it is directed against the capitalist
objects pursued by it, against the plans of annexation,
against the violation of the neutrality of Belgium
and Luxemburg, against military dictatorship, against
the total oblivion of social and political duties of
which the Government and ruling classes are still
to-day guilty. For this reason, I reject the
military credits asked for.”—From
the “Daily News,” December 14, 1914.
“KARL LIEBKNECHT.
“BERLIN, December 2.”
* * * *
*
DANGER OF RUSSIA.
The following is the text of the resolution passed
by the Central Committee of the Russian Social Democratic
Party in reply to M. Vandervelde’s appeal on
behalf of the Allied cause:—
“We recognize the anti-democratic character
of the Prussian hegemony, but as Russian Social Democrats
we cannot forget another enemy of the workers, and
no less dangerous—Russian absolutism.
In home affairs this enemy remains what it always
has been, a merciless oppressor and an unceasing exploiter.
Even at the present moment, when we should have thought
this despotism would be more cautious, it remains the
same and continues the political persecution of the
democracy, and of all subject nationalities.
To-day all Socialist journals are stopped, all working
class organizations are disbanded, many hundreds of
members are arrested, and our brave comrades are sent
to exile just as before. Should this war end
in victory for our present Government, it will become
the centre and mainstay of international reaction....
Our immediate objective should be the convocation
of a Constitutional Assembly. We demand this
in the interests of the same European democracy on
whose behalf you appeal. Our party is a very important
section of the world’s democracies, and by fighting
for our interests we are at the same time fighting
for the interests of all democracies, enlarging and
strengthening them. We hope that our interests
are not considered as opposed to those of other European
democracies which we esteem as highly as our own.
We are persuaded that Russian absolutism is the chief
support of reactionary militarism in Europe, and that
it has bred in the German hegemony the dangerous enmity
towards European democracy.”
* * * *
*
“‘But what about the danger of Russia?’
my readers will probably ask.
“To this question, every serious person will
probably answer, that when you are menaced by a great,
very great danger, the first thing to do is to combat
this danger, and then see to the next. Belgium
and a good deal of France are conquered by
Germany, and the whole civilization of Europe is menaced
by its iron fist. Let us cope first with this
danger.
