The Elections of 1890 in Germany

An article by Engels analyzing the political situation in Germany following the electoral victory of the Social Democratic Party of Germany in the Reichstag. Written around February 25, 1890, published in the Newcastle Daily Chronicle on March 3, 1890, and later published in the Berliner Volksblatt, No. 81, on April 6, 1890, with slight modifications.

On February 20, 1890, On February 20, 1890, in the first general election to the German Imperial Reichstag, the Social Democratic Party of Germany won a huge victory. Under the direct effect of this event, Engels wrote this article to evaluate the German Imperial Parliament elections of 1890. In this article, Engels first affirmed the achievements of the Social Democratic Party of Germany in its struggle. Even faced with the cruel repression of the Anti-Socialist Laws, the Social Democratic Party of Germany still upheld its organizational discipline; secretly used its central organ Der Sozialdemokrat, to publicize its ideas and elected its representatives to the Reichstag and to many municipal administrations. This led Social Democratic Party of Germany to grow in strength, the party won 20 seats in the Reichstag elections on February 20, 1890, and was expected to become the second largest party in Parliament in the following elections. Then, Engels analyzed the political situation in Germany at that time and explained the struggle position of the Social Democratic Party of Germany. Engels claimed that this parliamentary election had an important impact. He said: “This election establishes a complete revolution in the state of parties in Germany. It will indeed inaugurate a new epoch in the history of this country and marks the beginning of the end of the Bismarck era.” In his view, the collusion between Bismarck and William II tended to break up, and the aristocracy and bourgeoisie showed distrust in Bismarck. In addition, the people’s confidence in the stability of German order—when old William reigned, Bismarck governed and when Moltke was at the head of army—was shaken, and the immense oppression “upon the people no longer is patiently borne”, in this case, Bismarck was likely to provoke a counter-revolutionary riot. And if that happened, the Social Democratic Party of Germany should maintain its unity, resist forcefully and rely on its solid discipline. Of course, the Social-Democratic Party should insist on the combination of armed resistance and parliamentary struggle.

The Elections of 1890 in Germany fully affirmed the achievements of the struggle of the Social Democratic Party of Germany, correctly predicted the development of German political situation at that time, and identified the direction of development for the Party.