113. Note by the Editorial Board of Das Volk
113. Note by the Editorial Board of Das Volk[469]
We only published the poem by G. Herwegh in our last issue[3] to show what can happen to the once-admired art of political-poetic declamation if it is brought low by Swiss republicanism. The relevant editorial comment was however omitted due to a mistake.
Written about July 29, 1859
July 30, 1859 Published in English for the first time
Endnotes
[469] In issue No. 12 of Das Volk (July 23, 1859) Biscamp, without notifying Marx, , 6 9 In issue No. 12 of Das Volk (July 23, 1859) Biscamp, without notifying Marx, printed Georg Herwegh's arch-patriotic poem written on the occasion of the Federal Marksmen's Festival in Zurich. On July 30, 1859 Marx published an ironical editorial note (Das Volk, No. 13), which is given below. In connection with the publication of Herwegh's poem Engels wrote to Marx on July 25, 1859: "How, by the way, could you permit Herwegh's lousy poem to be included?" (see present edition, Vol. 40). In his reply to Engels Marx wrote on August 1, 1859: "Herwegh's rotten poem got in without my knowing about it. I therefore compelled Biscamp to give an explanation in the last issue and, into the bargain, I got him to publish the Landwehr soldier's song (as a fitting sequel to Herwegh)" (ibid.).
[3] Rich gold deposits were discovered in California in 1848 and Australia in 1851. Apart from their great importance for the commercial and industrial development of the European and American countries, these discoveries whipped up stock-exchange speculation there.