Page:Edward Aveling - Wilhelm Liebknecht and the Social-Democratic Movement in Germany (1896).djvu/8

 that have proved to the full the strength of character of the old fighter, stand out as an example for every soldier of the proletariat. The fruits of this life so rich in deeds belong first to the German workers. Liebknecht was at the beginning of this great political organisation of the proletariat, he helped in its earliest advances, he fought in the van of the defence during the terrible years of the anti-Socialist laws; in all the counsels of the very important Congresses for the development of the party he was prominent and active, just as his name is recalled to memory by the debates in the Reichstag that redounded so to the honour of the representatives of the German workers there. Liebknecht is one of the ablest agitators, the best speakers, and the most prominent writers of the German Party. And yet his work belongs no less to the International Workers' movement. Not only because the effect of his writings reaches far beyond the frontiers of Germany; not only because the feeling of the oneness of our efforts makes all workers share, not only in the results obtained by themselves, but in the results obtained by the workers in any country; but because Liebknecht is one of the most active and most faithful furtherers of the idea of the internationality of our movement. Liebknecht celebrates his seventieth birthday in the vigour of unbroken strength, in the full activity of his faculties. So that to-day the time is still far distant for estimating the value and significance of a life whose future hides in it a rich aftermath of deeds and work."

Finally, we quote the few words of those writers on the Vorwärts who have been for years in daily and hourly communication with their editor:—"Everyone knows that Liebknecht is one of the truest friends of the working people; an unselfish, untiring fighter in the van of Socialism; a veteran of the democracy ; the embodiment of the international solidarity of the proletariat of all countries."

Adler's words, and, indeed, the whole tone of the telegrams, letters, and articles show that in this demonstration upon the seventieth birthday of Liebknecht there is nothing of the unhealthy side of hero-worshi23. Hero-worship in itself is not a bad emotion, especially for the younger of us. Only let us be sure that we are worshipping heroes—an assurance very difficult to get, unless our hero is well removed from us in capacity at least, and also,