The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-12-29
Unhealthy Spots in a Social system.

We do not look with favor or with tolera-
ton ON the private assassination Of mon
archs as an advisable or cNcusable step to
be taken in the progress " Liberty. The
world will bear witness thar nowhere was
the attempt upon the life Of the Emperor
WILLIAM OF Germany, which well nign
proved successful more strongly con-
demned than in this republican country.
But now, when the Emperor has so far
recovered as to be able To resume the rcins
Of government which hid been, from ueces-
sity, temporarily iLtrIsted To the hands Of
the Crown Prince, deep interest attaches to
the explanation which the monarch himself
gives on his triumphal return to his capital,
OF the crime which caiae 20 near putting
tragic end 10 his reign. The shouts Of the
multitude ring in his cars; but he is still
suffering from the injuries he received, and
his wounded arm he carries in sling Ad-
dressing the minister's generals and court
dignitaries standing around him, the En-
peror spake these words.
"You will feel with with what mixed sensations
stand before you this moment for you. like myself.
have lived on through the tnr that has elapsed
that painful event overlook severe the
bodily suffering had to endure. il not toriurng
~ the wound inflicted heart by the thought that
II was in my capital aud tnat it was Prussian by
whom this visitation was laid upon me D."
Afterward, turning 10 the Prussian Minis
ters and the Presidents Of both Houses OF
the Imperial Legislature, the Emperor made
the following remark, Of deeper significance:
1.-THE painful experiences which have hetaen me per.
sonaly have also disclosed and made plain the unhealthy
spots in whole social system
Then there are unhealthy spots in the Ger
man social system. The Emperor himself
Is not 80 blind as not to see them. In spite
OF al the power and grandeur and glory OF
the empire. 1t is filed with unhealthy spots.
The people are not happy and the rulers do
not feel themselves secure
II the aged Emperor could see still fur
ther he would perceive it is not spots alone
In the social system Of Germany that are
unhealthy. II is the system itself that is
unphilosophcal aud unsound. The German
doctrine is that the Individual exists for the
empire, the citizen for tho Government.
Everything Is compulsory. The terribly
exacting military service is but epauletted
and uniformed slavery. The happiness Of
the man is nothing. Everything must be
sacrificed to the greatness Of the empire
Still dwelling on what he denominates the
unhealthy spots In the German system, the
Emperor continues in these words:
These only be healed by the stron. hand Of the
law, the Intervention Of which it recently again
necessary TO call in. II these also thereby
healed shall feel happy az having biei for the common
veal. and shah rejoice that many those who would
not believe In tho severity OF thgse wounds have SINCE
had their eyes opened"
Starting with a wrong conception Of the
nature OF the disease the remedy prescribed
by the Emperor is also erroneous. The UNI
healthy system of the German empire may
be temporarily supported, but 1t cannot be
permanently cured in this way. Liberty is
the only true tombstone at which its woes
would depart. The strong measures for the
Government to adopt are measures strong
with equality and freedom. Thus, and thus
alone, can enduring health be impaired 70
the whole system. The German people, less
governed, would be more happy.