The crisis that culminated in the First World War was deeply rooted, and accelerating, when Charles Rappoport, with his customary esprit, sees portents of war and revolution in 1910.

‘A World-Wide Crisis’ by Charles Rappoport from The Chicago Daily Socialist. Vol. 4 No. 159. April 30, 1910.

We are passing through a crisis, prevalent everywhere not only in France but in all of Europe. The dominant classes and their governments are living only by virtue of expedients that stop at nothing.

In Spain, where clericalism and capitalism have united and are supporting each other, the country has been led into an inextricable difficulty. The conservative Maura has been obliged to give place to the liberal Moret. The combination could not exist. The liberal succumbed. He gave up his place to the radical Canalejas, who finds himself confronted with insurmountable difficulties. There are rumors that a struggle is impending for a Spanish republic.

In Hungary, the old parties are in a state of complete dissolution. Hand-to-hand fights occur at the meetings of the Chamber, and the Ministers are seriously injured. The revolution matters. The working class is demanding its political rights, universal suffrage. Weighty events are impending.

In Germany, the Prussian government has been forced, by an uprising of the working class, to grant concessions. Instead of arguing, like our reformists, who willing to accept ridiculous installments of their rights, our German comrades are beginning to “talk French.” They revolt and threaten the powers that be, by open air demonstrations. The government forbids the demonstrations. The workers pay not attention to it and blood flows. The country rises in revolt.

The government attempts to stem the tide by passing a new franchise law, which satisfies no one. The struggle continues. Millions proletarians protest and indignation is rife. The red flag floats at Berlin and elsewhere. The populace is singing the song of revolution; perhaps soon it will be a song of victory. It is like the roaring of a lion.

The crisis is in Russia. There are thousands of executions; hundreds of thousands in prison and in exile. There is truly an awakening of the forces of Socialism, all aspiring to unity and organization as the immediate aim of all their efforts. Existence is becoming intolerable.

In a single day twenty persons committed suicide. Girls of fifteen kill themselves. Peasants and laborers silently prepare for new trials, new struggles. The situation is heavy with portent and with impending storm.

The crisis is in Italy. The government is in the minority and the conservative Sonnino is down. The piracy of capitalism is exploiting the seas–the maritime companies dictate to the administration. Their will is law. A successor to Sonnino is being sought. No one shows any eagerness to be the chosen one. The bourgeois politicians lack courage. The crisis is beyond solution. It is impossible to advance or recede. A reactionary policy is impossible. There is no one to lead a political advance.

The crisis is in France. Liquidation, crisis, liquidation, one grand wind-up. For the details see the daily papers, which tell of it at some length, but do not tell all.

A crisis in Belgium, where clerical domination is drawing to a close.

Crises in Turkey, Bulgaria, Servia, in Persia, in China–all parts of the world, all the continents are joining the universal dance.

The old world is going, the old order of things is approaching an end. A new era is preparing. All the elements of the new order of things are not yet ready. Old parties, old classes, old societies are in their last agony. The new parties and the rising classes still lack strength and breadth. Everywhere the mass of the people is in a state of agitation, but it is not yet sufficiently organized nor enlightened as to the causes of the crisis and the situation inextricable for the dominant classes.

The old crumbling regime would be elated could it entice new forces into its ranks to save it from destruction from the Socialist Party and the working class. Socialist ministers or at least, ministers with the Socialist label are sought for, are commanded, are entreated to return. Men like Briand, Millerand and Viviani respond to the appeal. Men like Ferri and Vandervelde wait to be called in their Socialism, tomorrow the victor, the future master of the world will not hear. It says to the old world: Save yourself if you can. It is not wise to move into house that is crumbling on all sides. I will come in my time not to save capitalist society, but to give it a death thrust. I will not be encumbered with dead body. I will bury it. I will not impede my progress by towing a derelict, I will send it to the bottom.

The Chicago Socialist, sometimes daily sometimes weekly, was published from 1902 until 1912 as the paper of the Chicago Socialist Party. The roots of the paper lie with Workers Call, published from 1899 as a Socialist Labor Party publication, becoming a voice of the Springfield Social Democratic Party after splitting with De Leon in July, 1901. It became the Chicago Socialist Party paper with the SDP’s adherence and changed its name to the Chicago Socialist in March, 1902. In 1906 it became a daily and published until 1912 by Local Cook County of the Socialist Party and was edited by A.M. Simons if the International Socialist Review. A cornucopia of historical information on the Chicago workers movements lies within its pages.

PDF of full issue: https://www.marxists.org/history/usa/pubs/chicago-daily-socialist/1910/100430-chicagodailysocialist-v04n159.pdf