Eleanor Marx Aveling
Source: Commonweal, Vol 1 No. 6, July 1885, pages 59
Transcribed: by Graham Seaman, February 2022
FRANCE. — Everyone who has observed the tactics of the French government — and it matters little whether that government be represented by the infamous Ferry or the virtuous Brisson — has long known ♦hat its chief aim and object of late has been to provoke a street riot, in order that advantage might be taken of any such disturbance to shoot down or arrest the men who are "dangerous," because, like Cassius, "they think too much." Despite many efforts, some of which have been noted in this "Record," the precious plan had generally failed. But on May 25 last an enticing opportunity presented itself — an opportunity so excellent, that the austere and virtuous Brisson could not resist.
Since the amnesty was granted the Communards six years ago, it has been their habit to go every year, on the anniversary of that terrible May week of 1871, to Père Lachaise, where lie so many of their comrades, to place flowers and wreaths upon the tombs of the martyrs, and, carrying the red flag of the revolution, remind themselves and their brother-revolutionists that after "Whit-Sunday, 1871, there can be neither peace nor truce possible between the working men of France and the appropriators of their produce."
This year, as on previous occasions, a meeting of all revolutionary societies and clubs had been organised, and the Socialists of Paris proceeded in large numbers to the cemetery. But here, without rhyme or reason, without the shadow of a pretext, these absolutely unarmed and quiet persons are suddenly attacked by armed police and soldiers, who, according even to the reactionary press wildly and indiscriminately charged men, women and children. The accounts of this brutal assault, of the numbers of men and women dangerously wounded by the banditti of "order" given even by the bourgeois penny-a-liners are enough to prove how ferocious and how cowardly the attack was. I need here enter into no details, as these are now well known. I would only again remind our English Socialists that for six years like demonstrations had been held and not interfered with; that there is no law that prohibits the carrying of red flags; and that the persons taking part in the demonstration were unarmed, and had no intention of creating any kind of disturbance.
One asks oneself what the French Republican (!) Government can possibly hope to gain by such an act. They have thereby only again shown the people that a bourgeois government is the worst of all. They have given the French proletariat — aye and the proletariat of the whole world — two Whit Sundays to remember instead of one. And vengeance is not only the Lord's!
A few days after this massacre two funerals of Communards took place: those of Amouroux and Cournet. A fresh riot was feared, but matters pased off quietly. The funeral of Victor Hugo also was undisturbed.
This massacre is bad enough, but another infamy calls equally for our attention. No doubt all our friends remember the so-called " dynamite attempts" at Monceaux les Mines, and how it was absolutely proved that the whole affair was got up by the police. The action of the police in this matter has never been disputed or denied. And yet the men arrested on the charge of committing the outrage have been condemned to twenty, twelve and ten years' penal servitude. This, it seems to me, is almost worse than an open attack by soldiers. These condemned men were many of them known as earnest Socialists, and they have in this monstrous fashion been got rid of.
SWEDEN. — The Social Democrat, of Zurich, publishes a most interesting letter from a Swede, which, for the benefit of English readers, I translate: "As news from our far-off land reaches you so seldom, I believe you and your readers may like to have some information respect- ing the social movement in our country.
"Two years ago Socialism was known to us only through the calumnies of the reactionary press. This new theory was everywhere passed over with mockery and contempt. But the position has changed. We have already a small Social-Democratic party, and the 'Red Spectre' is no longer mocked at, it is beginning to be feared...
"Two years ago a large working-men's movement was started in Stockholm. ... This movement, brought about in the first place by the oppression of the workers, was, however, soon misled into a wrong direction. One of our greatest capitalists, the 'brandy-king' L. O. Smith, made a desperate and energetic effort to place himself at the head of the movement, so that he might exploit the workers for his own ends. A great many were, in fact, taken in by him, and in consequence of Smith's representations the movement grew so quickly that within a few months 20,000 persons in Stockholm, and many thousands in the country, became his followers. But gradually the real objects of the man became evident; the people would have no more to do with him, and the whole movement has collapsed. But the stirring up of the workers has been of the greatest service. They are learning that they have a common interest to defend against the capitalist class; they have at last learnt that they are a power. At the same time as the movement referred to above, another had begun. ... A Swedish tailor expelled from Germany, August Palm, began preaching in Stockholm and other large towns a new, to us still unknown Labour Gospel — the Gospel of Socialism. He spoke everywhere in the open air, for no halls were let him, and he started a small paper, the 'Will of the People.' In short, with the smallest means he carried on a most energetic propaganda. This poor persecuted, despised tailor has among us, the real people, sown the first seeds of Socialism. He has already succeeded in forming a small party, and our prospects are not now nearly so dreary as a short time since."
AUSTRIA. — Of the massacre of workmen by the soldiery at Brüun I have as yet no further details than those given in the bourgeois press. I hope to have a full account of the terrible affair next month.
Eleanor Marx-Aveling.