“The responsibility for this recoils upon the leaders of that policy; we decline to accept it.  Social Democracy has fought against this ominous development with all the forces at its command.  Up to the very last hour we have worked for the maintenance of peace through mighty demonstrations in every land, especially in intimate cooperation with our French brothers. (Applause from the Social Democrats.) Our efforts have been in vain.

“Now we are face to face with the stern reality of war.  We are threatened by the terrors of a hostile invasion.  To-day we have not to decide either for or against war, but only concerning the necessary means for the defence of our country.  Now we have to think of the millions of our Genossen who are innocently swept into this fate.  They will suffer most through the devastations of war.  Our ardent wishes accompany also our brothers who are called to the flag without distinction of party. (Loud applause.)

“We think, too, of the mothers who must give their sons and of the women and children who are robbed of their bread-winners, and to whose fear for their loved ones is added the dread of hunger.  Tens of thousands of wounded and mutilated warriors will soon be added to these.  We consider it our most compelling duty to help them, to lighten their burdens and relieve their distress.[77] (Loud applause.)

[Footnote 77:  There is every reason to believe that the party has worked hard to keep this promise.—­Author.]

“In case of a victory for Russian despotism, which is already stained with the blood of Russia’s best sons, much—­if not everything—­is at stake for our people and our free future.  It is a question of averting this danger, and of securing the culture and independence of our own country. (Loud applause.)

“Now we will redeem our oft repeated pledge:  In the hour of danger we shall not leave our Fatherland in the lurch. (Loud applause.) Thereby, we feel ourselves in unison with the principles of internationalism which have always admitted the right of each single people to national independence and national defence.  We condemn, as internationalism does, every war of conquest.

“We demand, that, as soon as the goal of security has been attained and our enemies are inclined to make peace, the war shall end by a peace that will make friendship with neighbouring countries possible.  We demand this, not only in the interests of the international solidarity for which we have uniformly fought, but also in the interests of the German nation.

“We hope that the cruel school of war’s sufferings will awaken a horror for war in new millions, and win them over to the socialistic ideal and international peace.  Guided by these principles we vote in favour of the war loan. (Loud applause.)"[78]

[Footnote 78:  Leipziger Volkszeitung, August 5th.]

A short historical comparison will assist in making the Social Democratic action still clearer.  In 1870, when Bismarck asked the Reichstag for a war credit to prosecute the campaign against France, the Socialists were few and helpless.  Yet Liebknecht and Bebel refused to vote in its favour.  “Their moral demonstration was in itself perfectly logical, for Bismarck’s and Napoleon III.’s intrigues equally deserved condemnation."[79]