The Future Belongs to the PeopleLiebknecht, Karl Paul August Friedrich
History
The Future Belongs to the People
Liebknecht, Karl Paul August Friedrich
World War, 1914-1918
This Socialist policy is meant to be international, even in its ultimate
consequences. It imposes upon the Socialists of other countries the same
obligation with reference to their Governments and ruling classes that I
with others in Germany followed against the Government and ruling
classes of Germany.
This Socialist policy has an international effect, by spreading
reciprocal encouragement from nation to nation; it promotes the
international class struggle against war.
Since the beginning of the war I, together with others, have defended in
every possible way and upheld in the most public manner this Socialist
policy, and besides, so far as possible, have entered into connections
with those who shared my sentiments in other countries.
(I may mention, for example, my journey to Belgium and Holland in
September, 1914; my Christmas letter in 1914 to the Labor Leader; the
International Socialist Meetings in Switzerland, in which, I regret to
say, I was unable to participate personally, being prevented by superior
powers, etc.)
VI. This policy to which, cost it what it may, I shall hold fast, is
not mine alone, but it is also the policy of an ever-increasing
proportion of the people in Germany and of the other belligerent and
neutral States. It will soon become, as I hope--and to this end I am
resolved to toil on--the policy of the working-class of all countries,
which will then possess the power to break the imperialistic will of the
ruling classes, and to shape as may seem best the mutual relations and
conditions of the people for the benefit of all mankind.
KARL LIEBKNECHT,
_Armierungssoldat_.
LIEBKNECHT'S TRIAL AND RELEASE
On June 28th, 1916, Karl Liebknecht was sentenced at secret trial to
thirty months' penal servitude. When the public prosecutor asked for
this secrecy, Liebknecht exclaimed:
"It is cowardice on your part, gentlemen. Yes, I repeat, that you are
cowards if you close these doors."
Nevertheless, the court decided to exclude the public, upon which
Liebknecht cried to his wife and Rosa Luxemburg, in the audience, "Leave
this comedy, where everything, including even the decision, has been
prepared beforehand."
Following the announcement of the sentence given Liebknecht, the
Potsdamerplatz in Berlin was the scene of a serious outbreak.
The next day (according to reports from Switzerland) strikes of protest
against the Liebknecht case took place in Berlin and some 55,000 persons
were involved in them. In other cities strikes and demonstrations of
protest also took place.
An appeal was taken but resulted only in an increase in the sentence to
four years' and one month's imprisonment at hard labor. Furthermore, he
was deprived of all his civil rights for a period of six years after he
should have served his term.
[Associated Press Dispatch]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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