“When this monopoly is broken the English working classes will lose their present privileged position.  They will be reduced to the same level as the workmen of other lands.  Then Socialism will flourish in England (p. 23).[91]

[Footnote 91:  The author had fondly imagined that the British workman stood foremost as the result of his own battles.  In any case, it is to be hoped that British Socialists will be grateful for “Genosse” Lensch’s prayers for their downfall.]

“No party stands to lose more by a British victory than Social Democracy.  The overthrow of England’s world-position would clear the way for the continuation of the world’s progress on the right historical lines, and its economic development (p. 25).

“In the present world war the interests of the internationalists are bound up in a German victory.  Hence a German victory would be a victory for Marx’s internationalism, and only then, would the hearts and heads of English workmen be open to the intellectual schooling of the Socialistic idea (p. 27).

“As early as the eighties in the last century, Friedrich Engels proved that the ruin of England’s industrial monopoly had begun.  What the scientist had foretold, became evident to all eyes two decades later.  The social system of the greatest, world-ruling industrial State was shaken to its foundations.  International Socialists had every reason to welcome this peaceful downfall of England’s world power” (pp. 21-22).

“Marx once wrote that war is like a locomotive in the history of the world.  May this war have that effect and under full steam lead to a finish the work which peaceful development had already commenced, i.e., the downfall of English supremacy.  If the war hastens and concludes this process, then the sacrifices in blood and treasure will not have been in vain.  A great stumbling-block to human progress and especially to the proletarian fight for freedom will have been hurled out of the way” (pp. 27-8).

Having failed during a peaceful fight of over forty years, to hurl German autocracy and militarism out of the world, these hot-headed pioneers of liberty (Kaiserdom?) wish to destroy the very State which was their place of refuge when German “liberty” overwhelmed them with its kindly attentions.

Still we cannot be too grateful to Dr. Lensch for his lucid statement.  It is an effective reply to Germany’s sympathizers in this country, and if British workmen should ever see these lines, it will interest them to know that German Socialists are anxious to pull them down a little, in the belief that if British workmen are cut short in their luxuries they will become better Socialists and Internationalists.

Dr. Lensch has only one step more to take, and he will certainly gain the highest German order—­pour le merite.  The famous Communist manifesto of Marx and Engels concludes with the words:  “Proletarians of all lands, unite!” It is much to be desired that Dr. Lensch should amend this by adding to Marx’s phrase a few words, so that the amended form would run: