EDUARD BERNSTEIN 397 

London, 17 September 1892 

Dear Gine, 

From Louise, who came back here on Wednesday,* I have learned 
that you are still in Zurich and that Kate? is already in this country, 
and yesterday the letter from you and Ede at last enabled me to con- 
nect up the broken telegraph wires again. We are most sorry that you 
should still be so unwell but that is something that will eventually 
pass, and in the meantime Ede can continue to recuperate in the open 
air for a while longer, which will be most beneficial for him and do 
the party no harm, now that he has in any case missed the Trapes Un- 
ion Congress.°*° The latter was the scene of considerable confusion. 
The most interesting session from our point of view was the one on 
Thursday‘ on the question of the Congress.‘ If we had known your 
address, we’d have sent Ede a Scottish paper containing an account 
of it, but as it is, the few copies we had have been sent elsewhere. 

2 14 September-> Kate Schattner-* 8 September-? See this volume, pp. 519-20, 
522-24 and 528-29. 

When, despite continuous prodding from Thorne, the letter of invita- 
tion from Zurich ‘to the Trape Union Coneress’ in Glasgow had obstinate- 
ly been withheld for 4 whole days, Matkin tabled a motion, clearly 
concocted in conjunction with the ‘old’ unionists with a view to pre- 
venting attendance at Zurich, in which he called for the convocation 
of an international 8 hours congress of their own. Parnell, on the 
other hand, proposed an amendment to the effect that it would be bet- 
ter to go to Zurich. According to Ed. Aveling, Parnell and Quelch 
spoke very well. At that, all the old unionists went mad. The conti- 
nental workers, they said, were weak and badly organised, but if the 
English took them under their wing all might go well; in any case 
the Zurich Congress had not been convoked by the English Trapes 
Unions. Besides, who would want to associate himself with all the 
WILD THEORIES and the kind of soctauism that throve on the Continent, 
etc.? (This latter anxiety, in particular, being voiced in rasping 
tones by a Lancashire weaver,* one of the new converts to the 
8 hour day.) 

In short, in their delight that there should now be almost no opposi- 
tion to the 8 Hours pay, and by way ofa sop to the weak in spirit — the 
Lancashire cotton operatives — they unceremoniously consigned the 
Continentals’ invitation to the waste paper basket, and by 189 votes 
to 97, no less! 

Now this, although most of them were probably unaware of what 
they were doing, was in fact a disgusting insult and a slap in the face 
for the entire continental Labour movement. We instantly broadcast 
the news here, there and everywhere and no doubt the first riposte 
will come from the French in a few days’ time at Marseilles.>°° It’s 
a heaven-sent opportunity — without making too much of the mat- 
ter —for putting a damper on the self-conceit of the old rrapes un- 
ionists who are proving ever more reactionary. 

Herewith a Pall. Mall containing an article of Aveling’s about 
the Hamburg socialists and the cholera.” 

In the Daily Chronicle there was a long review, which no doubt 
you will have seen, of Sociatism Uroptan, etc.© What a canny lot they 
are! 

The French daily has not yet emerged from the embryonic 

* David Holmes-? E. Aveling, ‘The Cholera and the Hamburg Socialists’, The Pall 
Mall Gazette, No. 8577, 16 September 1892.-° the English edition (1892) of F. En- 
gels’ Socialism: Utopian and Scientific 

stage; negotiations are still proceeding but this is better than if 
the chaps were again to rush headlong into some short-lived 
venture. *?3 

Louise came back in a very cheerful mood, having found 
her mother and Ignaz very hale and hearty. She sends her warm 
regards. 

Now for a note to Ede, so farewell for today. 

With warm regards, 

Yours, 

F. Engels 

Dear Ede, 

The relevant passage went off to K. Kautsky* yesterday — indeed 
the entire letter from the point at which you began to quote; I told 
K. Kautsky that he would know how much to use, whether the whole 
thing or only a part, and which part. 

At the last conference of the Socia, Democratic Feperation °°° (Bank 
Houipay, the first Monday in August), Taylor, the unsuccessful 
candidate for Hackney,” proposed that Hyndman be thrown out. 
This met with great acclaim, particularly among the provincial dele- 
gates; however, Taylor was persuaded to tone down his motion in 
order that as large a majority as possible might be obtained. And thus 
it was resolved (unanimously, according to Taylor) that Hyndman 
be requested to resign from the leadership of the Soctar, Democratic Fepr- 
ration and devote himself to written propaganda. How long this will 
continue remains to be seen. At all events it is a bitter blow for the 
megalomaniac. Gahan of New York, who called on him without 
knowing about this, found him in a very despondent, chastened 
frame of mind and remarkably conciliatory towards all those he had 
hitherto torn to shreds. 

The Workman’s Times, i.e. Burgess, now also wishes to become 
party leader. You will have seen that the £400, which he placed at 
the disposal of Burns, Keir Hardie, Taylor and Ben Ellis during the 
elections, emanated from Champion (or rather, through him, from 
Hudson’s Soap). 

* See this volume, p. 528.-° district of London 

In short, there have been a good many changes here during your 
absence and you will find the chaps engaged in a variety of interest- 
ing pursuits. 

Many regards, 

Your 

F.E. 

I haven’t yet seen Kate.