t, who until shortly before his death in 1900 was one
of the foremost leaders of the Socialist Party in Germany, addressing
the Halle Convention, said: "As regards my own self, I had done with
religion at an early age.... I am an atheist, I do not believe in
God.... We may peacefully take our stand upon the ground of Socialism,
and thus conquer the stupidity of the masses in so far as stupidity
reveals itself in religious forms and dogmas." The same German Socialist
and atheist taught in his book, "Materialist Basis of History":

"It is our duty as Socialists to root out the faith in God with all
our zeal, nor is anyone worthy the name, who does not consecrate
himself to the spread of atheism."

August Bebel, who before his death in August, 1913, was the leader of
the Socialists of Germany, gave many proofs of the intimate relation
existing between Socialism and atheism. On September 16, 1878, he
declared in the Reichstag:

"Gentlemen, you attack our views on religion because they are
atheistic and materialistic. I acknowledge the correctness of the
impeachment. I am firmly convinced that Socialism finally leads to
atheism."

In the Reichstag, on December 31, 1881, he made the following profession
of faith:

"In politics we profess Republicanism, in economics Socialism, in
religion atheism."

According to the 1903 platform of the German Socialists, adopted at
Dresden, "No religious instructions of any kind shall be given to
children under the age of sixteen; after that they can select their own
religious tenets and teachings, as they please. Superstitious religious
notions that are current among the less educated classes are to be
eradicated through proper instructions."

"The Comrade," September, 1904, confesses that the satirical weekly
"L'Asino," published by the Socialists of Italy, and known throughout
the world for its attacks on religion, carries on a bitter fight against
the Catholic Church. In the early part of 1913, "L'Asino," speaking of
the coming Italian election, boasted that the Socialists would proclaim
their anti-clericalism and atheism in the public meetings.

The Austrian Socialists in convention at Linz, May 30, 1898, passed a
resolution proposed by Pernerstorfer to the effect that "Socialism is
directly contradictory to Roman clericalism, which is enslaved to
unyielding authority, immutable dogmas, and absolute intellectual
thralldom. We doubt a