New-York tribune., 1878-07-23
GERMANY MENACED.
HE EMPIRE IN GLOOM AND DANGER.

which can scarcely be exaggerated The worst of it
is that people both at home aud abroad, partly
account of the military reputation, partly on
account of the diplomatic triumphs Of the Father
land, both being just illustrated by the united
craftsmanship of Europe, sitting at the horseshoe
table of the honest broker at Berlin.
in order to settle the most complex ques-
tions do not attach great Importance to the
gloomy. and dangerous situation Ger
many. As matter Of fact the situation was far
from brilliant even before Hodel and Nobiliug, of
sad memory, fired their shots at Emperor William.
Who could see the skeleton in the cupboard of a
country which had just overthrOwn two great
POwors-one a rival for centuries, the other an her
editary foe-and which was regarded as the first
military power in the world He who watches
from far-of coast a mighty ship sailing swiftly
along under proud flag knows naueht Of the leaks.
Germany before the attempts to aSsassinate hersov
ereign had some leaks-indeed some Dgly leaks.
Such was the Kultar HamPf !. e., the fight between
the German Government and the Roman
Church. Another was the socialstic agitation,
A third was the stagDatiOn of trade. general de-
preston was the consequence, ard an agitation to
bring about better times by protection duties, by
the introduction of laws long since abolished, as
for instance, Imprisonment for debts, usuIy laws,
police supervision and interference in trade.
Indeed, young Germany was very leaky, and, before
foreigners even suspected it, in lather critical
condition. Then came the two shots. IL was an
explosion. But no disaster followed i'm
mediately, the world turned its attention
TO other things. But the danger remains
The situation OF leaky ship, in which there has
been an explosion and fire is still raging, must be
dangerous. But in q far more dangerous position is
such ship when, in consequence Of disasters,
panic takes place. and officers, crew and passengers
4. a.. 10 4Ha ,.lcfn nbx
means of safety are dsregarded, and shin and peo-
pie are doomed. Not through the leaks, not
through the explosion, but in consequence of the
general panic catastrophe is imminent.
Neither the many SHORTCOMINGS Of the young Ger
man Empire, nor the two attempts 10 kin the En-
peror but the sad panic which has perverted the
sense of Germans is the true cause of the gloom
and danger hanging over Germany. The two shots
frightened the German people to the utmost not 80
much, perhaps because a sovereign who had least
deserved it was fired at but because, the would-be
murderers happening to be Socialists, people at
once jumped to the conclusion that lhese were the
signals for a Socialist outbreak. Although even
now there not the slightest reason 70 suppose that
there is actually Soclastic conspiracy at the bot
tom although it is acknowledged that Hodel was
thrown ont of the Socialist ranks because he was a
thief and backguard long before be succeeded in
a
has happened to show that Nothing belonged to a
gang of cOnspiratOrs-nay, although every one
knows that he had q tendency TO madness
and was nicknamed "the mad doctor" yet
people believe that the Socialists are the true
of the general uproar, and that something must be
done against the Socialists The Government and
the press have done everything TO increase pnbhc
apprehension the Government, because they be-
leve they can carry ont all their reachonafy pro-
iects, which were spoken of long before the at
tempted assassnatons; the press, partly because 1t
is Government press-and there is no country
where the press Is influenced by the Government
through a more subtle and efficient system-and
partly because. TO some extent 1t does not dare to
reassurc the public.
The news from day to day is far from reassuring.
Rumors OF clews 20 a Socialist conspiracy are
always in the air. AS rnle they are denied but
the theory of "semper alqaid bGyei" holds good.
Then there are the so-called Observation-Disclosures
insults to the sovereign. Every day long lists are
published OF those who have been arrested or SEN
fenced to long or short terms of imprisonment.
Some have been sentenced to ten, great many 70
five. the majority to two years imprisonment, be-
cause they nsulted or at least, were understood TO
have insulted the German Emperor in connection
with the attempts of H0del and Nobiling.
Women, students. school-boys and old men
of all classes were sentenced to imprison-
ment. because they had said that they would
have aimed better than Hddel, that Ger
many might as well be a republic, or that the death
Of the Emperor would have saved The country 80
or so much year. Many wee merely misunder-
sto0d-and very strange Misunderstanding have
come 10 Highland had TO suffer long arrest before
they could prove their innocence and worst OF all
hundreds are being arrested and sentenced to prisoa
.t,o .J.r, oofn testimony
of one in many cases. being considered sufficient TO
warrant verdict against the DrisoDcr-in ell cases
10 insure an arrest and in cases the lynching
Of the person arrested. Some tribunals have
Thought it best to make the facts known, that
anonymous denunciatiOns could not be received.
In some cases innocent men. who |efo arrested ON
the evidence Of personal enemies. committed sIucide
Manufacturers, industrial and commercial compa-
mics, railway companies, partly o their own ac-
count partly encouraged by the Government, are
giving notice that they will dismiss every official
workinprnan from their service who Is
identified with the Socialists, and that they on no
account viii employ anyone dismissed for such a
raason. Hotel keepers advertise that they Will let
no more rooms for Socialist meetings, and even IN
1,rye cities IL ia difficult for the Socialists TO lind
room even for election meetings. The police man
age 10 dissolve every meeting OF the nd or rather
NOT to allow such gatherings to take pace at ALL
Strangers coming to Berlin must again as III for
meF times produce passports. Naturally such iacts
strengthsn the impression that Socialist reYoiu-
f,on ia imminent and that the first duty of every
citizen ia to make n stand against the enemies OF
society," Now, add to these conditions OF dlsrust
the dissolution of Parliament, the election in
triQues. the logic of the reaetonary papers, some
Of which denounce the most respectable leaders OF
tine liberal parties as dangerous TO the Government
and everyone will agree that such situation ia
gloomy indeed.
But IL is also fraught with dangers. What is to
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