New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1872-08-01

richfs should be established and effectually
maintained throughout the Union by efficient
and appropriate State and Federal legislation.
Neither the law nor its administration should
admit of any discrimination in respect OF cltl-
zens, by reason of race, color, or previous
condition of servitude.-A Plank IN the Flat-
form of the Philadelphia Convention.
Happiness In the German Empire
Notwithstanding the glowing descriptions
of the greatness of the German Empire, OF
the general happiness reigning there, that
reach us through the medium of an official
and oficious press, more reliable information
derived from impartial sources, reveals
most uncomfortable state of affairs through
out nearly the whole of the Empire. The
intoxication caused by unparalleled victories
has eyaporated, sober reflection has set in,
an the inevitable reaction has taken place.
The people are beginning to realize that the
fruits of their exertions will be gathered by
the Goyernment-which in monarchies is by
no means identical with the people-and by
a sovereign family and their surroundings,
while they have only to bear the burden of
1t, They shed their blood, incurred untold
perils suffered from want, bereavement,
anxiety, and privation; they have saved the
country, achieved its uni6cation and great
ness, yet no material benefit, no improve
ment in their condition has compensated
them for their sacrifices. Willard on mill
lard of the war indemnity has gone into the
Golfers of the State without bringing relief to
the middle and lower classes, on which the
burden of high taxation and the unprece-
dented prices of the necessaries of life
another consequence of the warfare falling
with all their weight, and naturally will call
forth the reflection that German unity after
all is but an improbable luxury, not worth
the price at which it has been purchased.
Discomfort particularly prevails among the
inhabitants of the States that were absorbed
by Prussia in 1866, without their own con-
sent, such as those of Hanover and the
province of Schleswig; and even the Hol-
steiners are reported to regret the mild
Danish rule that they were so anxious to
shake off, to the stern and strict discipline
to which they have been subjected ever
since.
The political aspect is even more cheer
less. All the rosy, sanguine hopes enter
tanned at the close of the war have proved
llusory, and have been dispersed by hard
memorable facts. 1t was expected that the
men in power in recognition of the achieve.
ments of the people, to whom they are in.
debted for their present exalted position
would make concessions to the spirit of the
age, and grant greater liberty than had been
the share of Germany heretofore. To be
sure, there was not the least ground to war.
rant such anticipations. The idea that mer
of reactionary tendencies, grown old ant
gray in their extreme conservative notion!
about the divine right and authority of mon
archs, and the incapability of the people tt
govern themselves, should all at once turn
progressive, runs entirely contrary to expe
rience, especially when a man is as narrow
minded and narrow in his views as the Ger
man Emperor is known to be. Reverse'
might possibly open his eyes, or act as {
pressure on him, but when his course is ap
parently indicated by success, such chang'
is moral impossibility, and what is true o
the Emperor is partially true of Bismarck
Though infinitely more gifted and enlight
ened, of farther reaching vision and more ex
tensive knowledge, he is quite as much of al
absolutist, and imbued with the same haught,
contempt for the masses of the people ant
their rights.
One Of the latest emanations Of this spiri
is the new military penal code that re
Gently passed the Chambers. 1t is stigma
TIED as an unparalleled outrage on the civ
ilization of the age, on human dignity, an,
human rights. For slight Offenses the soldie
is subjected to degrading barbarous punish
ment, whose infection is left to the discre
ton of the officers, in whom power is vest
ed with which few men can safely be trusted
least of all those into whose hands it is givel
by the new code. A large part Of them be
long to noble families, and have grown up il
all the prejudices of birth and caste, will
comparatively little education. Frequent,
they entertain lofty and supreme contemp
for the people whom they style "the rabble, ,
and if unfortunately an overbearing imperi
GUS disposition and violent temper combine
with a small intellect, the trials of the sol
der can easily be imagined. Such a relation
Of one man toward the other would be CALLING
under all circumstances, but it becomes ut
terly uncomfortable in Germany, where every
young man not physically disabled, whether
rich or poor, is compelled to fulfill his mill
tary duty in person. Thus the best clemants
Of society are represented in the rank and file
Of the German army, which, consequently, in
intelligence, education and discipline is fore.
most in Europe, and frequently the private
soldier is Intellectually far superior to the of.
ficer against whose brutality and injustice he
is utterly defenseless. This compulsory mill.
tary service is one of the most odious features
81 monarchical rule, the dark shadow on the
family hearth, has alwas been one of the
chief inducements to emigration, which, since
the war, has increased to SUCH an extent as
seriously to alarm The Government, and it is
even asserted that Bismarck is meditating to