hat protection from the militia! Since we do not as yet have
the militia, we shall make no use of the standing army, for we would
rather let the Cossacks into the country!

From whatever side we consider the situation, we German Socialists could
not have acted otherwise than we have. A party like that of Social
Democracy, the strongest in the country, cannot avoid the facts by
hiding its head in the sand; it must act! It is no exaggeration to state
that in the present crisis the entire German people is united. That
whole nation is determined, cost what it may, to end the war as speedily
as possible, but at the same time victoriously. There is no one here who
feels any resentment toward France, and every one wishes that a worthy
peace will be established between Germany and France as soon as
possible.

England's Shameful Role.

England is playing a perfectly shameful role in this war. Even though
France were allied to Russia by an unfortunate treaty, England was not
so allied! But England, who has ever been jealous of the industrial
development of our country, used the violation of our treaty of
neutrality with Belgium, which was incurred only in dire need and which
was yielded openly and honestly in the Reichstag by the Chancellor, as a
pretext to declare war against us. And England crowned this abhorrent
action by mobilizing against us an east-Asiatic nation. Japan, whose
sons have enjoyed the most genuine and far-reaching hospitality at our
hands, whose culture has been enriched through us, who has won from us
our industrial secrets, shows herself suddenly as the most despicable,
the most treacherous nation of this whole world. I do not need to go
into details over the demands which Japan has presented to Germany, for
I assume that your readers are already in full possession of the facts.

Germany will perhaps lose a part of her colonial possessions in this
war. Germany is in no position to protect these against many enemies
during the war. Germany has steadily counted upon some colonial losses
in the struggle. We Socialists especially have in our opposition to
capitalistic colonial policy continually pointed to the fact that in the
event of war colonies cannot be retained.

For the rest, however, Germany is of good courage. No one has the
slightest doubt that our country will claim victory against the hostile
oppression from without. In the meantime you in America have long since
learned that all announcements o