The ''Neue Rheinische Zeitung: Organ der Demokratie'' ("New Rhenish Newspaper: Organ of Democracy") was a German daily

newspaper A newspaper is a periodical publication containing written information about current events and is often typed in black ink with a white or gray background. Newspapers can cover a wide variety of fields such as politics, business, sports a ...

, published by

Karl Marx Karl Heinrich Marx (; 5 May 1818 – 14 March 1883) was a German philosopher, economist, historian, sociologist, political theorist, journalist, critic of political economy, and socialist revolutionary. His best-known titles are the 1848 ...

Cologne Cologne ( ; german: Köln ; ksh, Kölle ) is the largest city of the German western States of Germany, state of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) and the List of cities in Germany by population, fourth-most populous city of Germany with 1.1 m ...

between 1 June 1848 and 19 May 1849. It is recognised by historians as one of the most important dailies of the

Revolutions of 1848 in Germany In political science, a revolution (Latin: ''revolutio'', "a turn around") is a fundamental and relatively sudden change in political power and political organization which occurs when the population revolts against the government, typically due ...

. The paper was regarded by its editors and readers as the successor of an earlier Cologne newspaper, the ''

Rheinische Zeitung The ''Rheinische Zeitung'' ("Rhenish Newspaper") was a 19th-century German newspaper, edited most famously by Karl Marx. The paper was launched in January 1842 and terminated by Prussian state censorship in March 1843. The paper was eventually su ...

'' ("Rhenish Newspaper"), also edited for a time by Karl Marx, which had been suppressed by state censorship over five years earlier.

Publication history

Establishment

The ''Neue Rheinische Zeitung: Organ der Demokratie'' ("New Rhenish Newspaper: Organ of Democracy") was founded 1 June 1848 in Cologne (Köln), part of

Rhineland The Rhineland (german: Rheinland; french: Rhénanie; nl, Rijnland; ksh, Rhingland; Latinised name: ''Rhenania'') is a loosely defined area of Western Germany along the Rhine, chiefly its middle section. Term Historically, the Rhinelands ...

. The paper was established by Karl Marx, Frederich Engels, as well as leading members of the

Communist League The Communist League (German: ''Bund der Kommunisten)'' was an international political party established on 1 June 1847 in London, England. The organisation was formed through the merger of the League of the Just, headed by Karl Schapper, and the ...

living in Cologne immediately upon the return of Marx and Engels to Germany following the outbreak of the 1848 Revolution.Hal Draper, "Neue Rheinische Zeitung: Organ der Demokratie," in ''The Marx-Engels Glossary: Glossary to the Chronicle and Register, and Index to the Glossary: Volume 3 of the Marx-Engels Cyclopedia.'' New York: Schocken Books, 1986; pp. 150-151. The paper's editorial staff included

Joseph Weydemeyer Joseph Arnold Weydemeyer (February 2, 1818, Münster – August 26, 1866, St. Louis, Missouri) was a military officer in the Kingdom of Prussia and the United States as well as a journalist, politician and Marxist revolutionary. At first a supp ...

, with Marx serving as editor-in-chief. The paper was named after an earlier newspaper edited by Karl Marx in Cologne from 1842 to 1843, the ''Rheinische Zeitung.'' The paper had the subtitle "Organ of Democracy," referring not to the establishment of

parliamentary A parliamentary system, or parliamentarian democracy, is a system of democracy, democratic government, governance of a sovereign state, state (or subordinate entity) where the Executive (government), executive derives its democratic legitimacy ...

democracy, but to the revolutionary "Democratic front" which included the progressive petty bourgeoisie, the

working class The working class (or labouring class) comprises those engaged in manual-labour occupations or industrial work, who are remunerated via waged or salaried contracts. Working-class occupations (see also " Designation of workers by collar colou ...

, and the

peasantry A peasant is a pre-industrial agricultural laborer or a farmer with limited land-ownership, especially one living in the Middle Ages under feudalism and paying rent, tax, fees, or services to a landlord. In Europe, three classes of peasants ...

. The paper was financed through the sale of shares of stock, contributions and loans, and paid advertising. The paper was produced as a 4-page

broadsheet A broadsheet is the largest newspaper format and is characterized by long Vertical and horizontal, vertical pages, typically of . Other common newspaper formats include the smaller Berliner (format), Berliner and Tabloid (newspaper format), ta ...

, with the use of occasional special supplements.

Development

Circulation of the paper ranged from 3,000 to 6,000 copies per issue,James G. Chastain
"Neue Rheinische Zeitung,"
''Encyclopedia of 1848 Revolutions,'' www.ohio.edu/ a number far in excess of the membership of the Communist League itself, which specialists estimate had between 200 and 300 participants. This effectively rendered the publication into what historian Tatyana Vasilyeva has called "the leading centre of the Communist League, directing the political activity of its members throughout Germany during the revolutionary period." A total of 301 editions of the ''Neue Rheinische Zeitung'' (NRZ) were produced during the course of its existence. To these Marx himself contributed a total of not fewer than 80 articles over the course of its existence. Since editorial contributions to the NRZ were unsigned and handwritten manuscripts have not survived, a precise count is impossible, however.

Political line

The ''Neue Rheinische Zeitung'' (NRZ) was outspoken in its criticism of

Prussia Prussia, , Old Prussian: ''Prūsa'' or ''Prūsija'' was a German state on the southeast coast of the Baltic Sea. It formed the German Empire under Prussian rule when it united the German states in 1871. It was ''de facto'' dissolved by an em ...

and

Austria Austria, , bar, Östareich officially the Republic of Austria, is a country in the southern part of Central Europe, lying in the Eastern Alps. It is a federation of nine states, one of which is the capital, Vienna, the most populous ...

for

Monarchist Monarchism is the advocacy of the system of monarchy or monarchical rule. A monarchist is an individual who supports this form of government independently of any specific monarch, whereas one who supports a particular monarch is a royalist. ...

counter-revolution, and actively agitated for their defeat. The paper was also critical of the willingness of the

liberal Liberal or liberalism may refer to: Politics * a supporter of liberalism ** Liberalism by country * an adherent of a Liberal Party * Liberalism (international relations) * Sexually liberal feminism * Social liberalism Arts, entertainment and m ...

bourgeoisie The bourgeoisie ( , ) is a social class, equivalent to the middle or upper middle class. They are distinguished from, and traditionally contrasted with, the proletariat by their affluence, and their great cultural and financial capital. They ...

to compromise with Monarchist forces — policies which Marx and his comrades believed would have negative impacts upon the German revolution. More than three decades after the publication's termination, Marx's close associate

Frederick Engels Friedrich Engels ( ,"Engels"
'' Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a List of transcontinental countries, transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia, Northern Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, largest country in the ...

, including the restoration of

Poland Poland, officially the Republic of Poland, is a country in Central Europe. It is divided into 16 administrative provinces called voivodeships, covering an area of . Poland has a population of over 38 million and is the fifth-most populous ...

." With respect to foreign affairs, Engels recalled that the NRZ sought "to support every revolutionary people and to call for a general war of revolutionary Europe against the mighty bulwark of European reaction — Russia." This policy was intended to undermine both the authority of Prussia and Tsarist Russia, both considered reactionary and militaristic powers, with war against Russia seen as a necessary prerequisite for establishment of a unified and democratic Germany.Engels, "Marx and the ''Neue Rheinische Zeitung'' (1848-49)," pg. 124. Marx and Engels believed that "if Germany could be successfully brought to make war against Russia, it would be the end for the

Habsburgs The House of Habsburg (), alternatively spelled Hapsburg in Englishgerman: Haus Habsburg, ; es, Casa de Habsburgo; hu, Habsburg család, it, Casa di Asburgo, nl, Huis van Habsburg, pl, dom Habsburgów, pt, Casa de Habsburgo, la, Domus Hab ...

and

Hohenzollerns The House of Hohenzollern (, also , german: Haus Hohenzollern, , ro, Casa de Hohenzollern) is a German royal (and from 1871 to 1918, imperial) dynasty whose members were variously princes, electors, kings and emperors of Hohenzollern, Brandenb ...

and the revolution would triumph along the whole line." The tone of the newspaper was described by Engels as "by no means solemn, serious, or enthusiastic," instead treating political opponents with "mockery and derision" in a manner entertaining to readers. The paper sought to foster the idea that the German events of the spring of 1848 were the starting point of a long revolutionary process akin to the

French Revolution The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in November 1799. Many of its ideas are considere ...

of 1789-1794.Engels, "Marx and the ''Neue Rheinische Zeitung'' (1848-49)," pg. 125. The paper attempted to undermine the notion that the formal resolutions of various "National Assemblies" were capable of changing state policy in any fundamental way. Throughout its existence the NRZ was persecuted by the Prussian government, which brought lawsuits against it charging the NRZ with having "slandered" government officials. As the revolutionary upsurge of 1848 ebbed, the government's hindrance of the publication became steadily more effective, culminating in Karl Marx's expulsion from Germany — a move which effectively killed the paper.

Suppression

On 2 March 1849, Prussian soldiers came to Marx's home to arrest one of the writers. Marx refused to turn over the writer, and the soldiers eventually left. On 16 May 1849 Marx received an official note from the royal government declaring:

"The tendency of the ''Neue Rheinische Zeitung'' to provoke in its readers contempt for the present government, and incite them to violent revolution and the setting up of a social republic has become stronger in its latest pieces.... The right of hospitality which he has so disgracefully abused is therefore to be withdrawn from its editor-in-chief, Dr. Karl Marx, and since he has not obtained permission to prolong his stay in these states, he is ordered to leave them within 24 hours. If he should not comply voluntarily with this demand, he is to be forcibly conveyed across the frontier."

This expulsion order, combined with the growing threat of arrest or exile of its writers forced the NRZ to publish its last issue on 19 May 1849, known as the "red issue" as it was printed entirely in red ink. Marx closed with a sharp rebuttal against the suppression of the NRZ:

"Why these absurd phrases, these official lies? The trend and tone of the latest pieces of the ''Neue Rheinische Zeitung'' do not differ a whit from its first 'sample piece.' * * *

"And the 'social republic'? Have we proclaimed it only in the 'latest pieces' of the ''Neue Rheinische Zeitung?'' Did we not speak plainly and clearly enough for these dullards who failed to see the 'red' thread running through all our comments and reports on the European movement? * * *

"We have no compassion and we ask no compassion from you. When our turn comes, we shall not make excuses for the terror. But the royal terrorists, the terrorists by the grace of God and the law, are in practice brutal, disdainful, and mean, in theory cowardly, secretive, and deceitful, and in both respects disreputable."

Legacy

In January 1850 Marx launched a new publication, a monthly magazine called '' Neue Rheinische Zeitung: Politsch-ökonomische Revue'' ("New Rhenish Newspaper: Politico-Economic Review"). Edited in

London London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...

and printed in

Hamburg (male), (female) en, Hamburger(s), Hamburgian(s) , timezone1 = Central (CET) , utc_offset1 = +1 , timezone1_DST = Central (CEST) , utc_offset1_DST = +2 , postal ...

, the periodical managed only six issues before folding. The best-known content of the NRZ were a series of five articles on economics published by Marx in April 1849 — a series unfinished due to the suppression of the paper.Hal Draper, ''The Marx-Engels Register: A Complete Bibliography of Marx and Engels' Individual Writings: Volume 2 of the Marx-Engels Cyclopedia.'' New York: Schocken Books, 1985; pg. 91. First gathered under a single set of covers under the title '' Wage-labor and Capital'' in 1880, this material was subsequently revised by Engels in 1891 and frequently reprinted thereafter as an accessible popularization of

Marxist economics Marxian economics, or the Marxian school of economics, is a heterodox school of political economic thought. Its foundations can be traced back to Karl Marx's critique of political economy. However, unlike critics of political economy, Marxian e ...

. The great bulk of the journalism of Karl Marx and Frederick Engels in the NRZ became systematically accessible to an English readership only in 1977, with the publication of volumes 7, 8, and 9 of the '' Marx-Engels Collected Works.'' It was then that a total of 357 of the 422 articles contained therein were published in English for the first time. In 2005 an online newspaper calling itself ''Neue Rheinische Zeitung'' was established.Neue Rheinische Zeitung (2005) website.
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Footnotes

Editorial Board

Source: "Statement of the Editorial Board of the ''Neue Rheinische Zeitung,"'' no. 1, June 1, 1848. Reprinted in ''MECW: Vol. 7,'' pg. 15. *

(editor-in-chief) *

Heinrich Bürgers Johann Heinrich Georg Bürgers (21 June 1820, Cologne – 10 December 1878, Berlin) was a German journalist and an editor of the ''Neue Rheinische Zeitung'' He became a member of the Communist League and, in 1850, he became a member of the League ...

Ernst Dronke Ernst Andreas Dominicus Dronke (17 August 1822, Koblenz – 2 November 1891, Liverpool) was a German writer and journalist. Because of his philosophical beliefs, Dronke became a "true socialist". Later he became a member of the Communist League a ...

Friedrich Engels Friedrich Engels ( ,"Engels"
'' Georg Weerth Georg Ludwig Weerth (17 February 1822 – 30 July 1856) was a German writer and poet. Weerth's poems celebrated the solidarity of the working class in its fight for liberation from exploitation and oppression. He was a friend and companio ...

Ferdinand Wolff Ferdinand Wolff (7 November 1812 – 8 March 1895) was a German journalist by profession and a proletarian revolutionary. He joined the Communist League and became an editor of the ''Neue Rheinische Zeitung'' in 1848 and 1849. He was a close frie ...

* Wilhelm Wolff

External links

*
Articles from the Neue Rheinische Zeitung 1848-49
', a compilation of articles by Marx and Engels in

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format put out by

Progress Publishers Progress Publishers was a Moscow-based Soviet publisher founded in 1931. Publishing program Progress Publishers published books in a variety of languages: Russian, English, and many other European and Asian languages. They issued many scientific b ...

Articles by Karl Marx and Frederick Engels in the ''Neue Rheinische Zeitung''
* ttp://www.deutschestextarchiv.de/nrhz Archiveat {{Authority control Publications established in 1848 Publications disestablished in 1849 Defunct newspapers published in Germany German-language newspapers 1848 in politics Newspapers published in Cologne History of Cologne History of the Rhineland Socialism German revolutions of 1848–1849 1848 establishments in Prussia 1849 disestablishments in Prussia Rhine Province