Date: Sun, 08 Feb 1998 17:53:24 -0800
Subject: M-G: Jules Guesde [1845-1922]


Gerry Downing <gerry-AT-gerryd.demon.co.uk> asked

> was Guesde a similar
> Dutch political character?

 No.

 Jules Guesde (né Basile) [1845-1922] was a member of
the Paris Commune and a founder of the Parti Ouvrier
Français in 1882.  Guesde was a revolutionist; his
customary opponent in the Second International was 
the class collaborationist Jean Jaurès [1859-1914].

 On 31 July 1914, even as the "revolutionist" Guesde
endorsed "his" France's plunge into chauvinist war,
the reformist Jaurès was shot by a jingo assassin
while still in formal opposition to the imperialist
slaughter. 

 Jaurès became a martyr of the international
proletariat, while Guesde became proof that the
gears of political evolution have no ratchet.

 For readers of French, or for anyone who just wants to
see an old visiting-card picture of Guesde:

 http://chez.com/durru/guesde/julesguesde.htm

- David Stevens


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