Contents -BIBLIOGRAPHIC RECORD

Upton Sinclair, ed. (1878–1968). rn The Cry for Justice: An Anthology of the Literature of Social Protest. 1915.

The Coming Dawn
(From “Woman”)

Bebel, August

August Bebel

(A German woodworker, 1840–1913, who founded the Social-democratic party, and guided it for fifty years. In the following passage from his memoirs he tells of his first imprisonment, as a part of Bismarck’s long campaign to destroy the Socialist movement in Germany)

EVERY day furnishes fresh proof of the rapid growth and spread of the ideas that we represent. In all fields there is tumult and push. The dawn of a fair day is approaching with mighty strides. Let us then ever battle and strive forward, unconcerned as to “where” and “when” the boundary-posts of the new and better day for mankind will be raised. And if, in the course of this great battle for the emancipation of the human race, we should fall, those now in the rear will step forward; and we shall fall with the consciousness of having done our duty as human beings, and with the conviction that the goal will be reached, however the powers hostile to humanity may struggle or strain in resistance. Ours is the world, despite all; that is, for the workers and the woman.