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The Socialist Deluge

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Washington, D. C. · Jul 13, 1905

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 82, No. 28.

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The Socialist Deluge

By L. A. S.

ONE of the greatest phenomena of recent times in the political world is the rise and growth of socialism. The home of this movement is Germany, and it has attained much larger proportions in Europe than in the Western hemisphere; still it has become in the United States a political factor not to be disregarded. Speaking of the four hundred thousand votes cast for the socialist ticket at the national election last November, one who is conversant with the subject says:—
The four hundred thousand votes cast for Mr. Debs in the last election look insignificant enough when considered in themselves; but when they are viewed as the advance ripples of a mighty tidal wave that is rolling in from distant shores, they receive a terrible significance,—they mean nothing less than that the socialist deluge, which is inundating Europe to-day, will be upon us to-morrow, unless timely measures be taken to divert it from its course.
Of the present proportions of the socialist movement in the different countries of the world, the same authority says that in Germany, “in the general election of 1903, the total vote cast was nine millions and a half, and of this one third, or over three million votes, were polled by the socialists, giving them eighty-one seats in the Reichstag.”
In Austria, “in the last elections the socialists polled nearly a million votes, resulting, however, in the return of only about a dozen representatives to Parliament.”
In Belgium also the socialist element is strong. “The latest data available are those furnished by the elections of 1902, in which half a million votes were cast for socialist candidates, giving the party thirty-four seats in the legislature.”
In France the socialists “command about a million votes, and the last election gave them forty-six deputies in the Chamber and one minister in the Cabinet.”
In Holland, Denmark, Sweden, and Norway, socialism is strongly represented. “In Italy and Spain international socialism is still in its infancy; but in the former country it is gaining ground fast.” About three hundred thousand socialist votes were cast in Italy at the last general election, resulting in the election of nearly thirty deputies.
In Russia, the Social Democratic party is recognized as one of the strongest elements opposed to the reigning autocracy, and this party has the active sympathy and support of socialists in other countries. Events which are now taking place in Russia can hardly fail to give a great stimulus to the socialist movement throughout the world.
From a political standpoint, much may be said in favor of socialism as compared with other political systems; but for the ills which socialism seeks to ameliorate or remove, the Christian’s panacea is not found in any political system or any movement of human origin, but in the provisions of that gospel which is “the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” He sees in the coming kingdom of Christ the speediest and most effective means of removing injustice and inequality from the earth.
L. A. S.