New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-09-07
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE,
THE GERMAN ELECTIONS.


NOTIONS OF POLITICAL LIBERTY-wHERE AMER-
CANS AND GERMANS DIFFER CONSERVATIVES
AND LIBERALs-THE FIERCE sTRUGGIE-CoN-
SENTATIVE GAINs-NEGo rIATIONs BETWEEN
PRINCE BISMARCK AND THE yATICAN-REsULT
OF ELECTIONS IN REGARD TO THE SOCIALISTS
BILL AGAINST THE SOCIALISTS.
To the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: The comments on my last letter made in an
editorial of THE TRIBUNE were natural They were
those of an American with American ideas of politl-
cal liberty Everyone knows that people brought up
in wealth have no idea with how very little the poor
sometimes must make both ends meet, and how they
are troubled less by the scarcity Of their means than
by the fear of losing the little they have. An
American who takes a trip to Germany, will at once
see the wide difference there is between the comfort
of an average American aud an average German
home. But it takes some time before be can under
stand that rights and privileges never questioned
by anybody in America or England are constantly
In danger Of being suppressed by Conservative
Government in Continental Europe.
In the comments alluded to the apprehensions Of
young Germany" in regard to the ultimate results
of a reactionary policy were described strained
more even he supposed, TO a certain extent, TO
sympathize with the Socialists. The fact, however,
is that on the contrary he fully appreciates the
danger arising from the Socialistic intrigues, and
denounces the doctrines Of the Socialists in every
respect perniciOus TO society. But so does every
Liberal in Germany, and yet, during the last gem
eral elections there was deadly struggle against
Liberalism in general, mild and modest though
Liberalism is in Germany. Of the bighhanded
measures taken against such Liberals as the
National Liberals only yesterday. the steady
supporters of Prince Bismarck's government, the
world will hear by and by. Meanwhile, it is not
exaggeration to say that the methods aud the in
trigues of the Government were scarcely behind
those resorted to by the Sixth Of May Government in
France and were never equalled in Germany before.
The Commission of the Diet whose business il is to
examine the elections will have plenty of work this
time and there will be good deal of dirty linen 10
wash.
The fact is, that German Liberals had reason long
SINCE to be afraid of a general reaction, and could
not help fearing their worst expectations 10 come
to pass when they saw what methods of agitation,
never heard of in Germany before. were adopted by
the agents Of the Conservatives and the officials
The people, frightened already, were made crazy
The Liberal leaders had therefore 1.-THE risk
everyone runs who presumes honestly TO recon-
mend order as the best policy amidst general
panic, when fools and those who live by other
peoples folly at the top of thervOices shouting:
"Sauve Qm peatP0 unremlttingy to point out the
This was done and blamed by the Conservatives at
home and most people abroad on the plea that
Prince Bismarck no doubt knew what he was about
and that he was not the man to undo" Germany
But nobody in his senses believes that Prince Bis
marck intends to undo Germany. his own great Gre
ation No doubt Prince Bismarck thinks he is doing
tho best he can for Germany, when he strengthens
the Government by making it as nearly as possible
independent of the Diet He believes it is the best
for the country to go again with the COnserva-
tves Just as he thought it best for the last ten years
TO 90 with the Liberals. In his heart Bismarck
has never for moment ceased TO be the "junker0
of the old school only he was great enough to sub
due his likmgs and dslikes. But now there being
in his opinion no necessity for such sacrifice, he
thinks the time has come for driving the Liberals to
the wall and governing Germany in the old Prus
sian STYLE which of course ID his opinion Is without
danger TO German unity. But then German Liberals
do not agree with him, and the general elections
have shown that in spite Of the most shameful
tricks of the Conservatives and the unprecedented
events which led to these ELECTIONS the majority OF
! the people is liberal STILL The majority Of the na-
tiOn, without undertaking the socialistic danger
still believes that Germany may be strong and yet
| be governed In Il modern and civilized fashion.
The Conservatives have no doubt gained q great
number of seats, but insufficient for Conservative
| majority Nevertheless the danger of reaction has
not disappeared yet. All NJ the world WAS sur
| prised by the astounding news that Prince Bis
maFck aud the NunciO of the Pope had conferences
| at KissinReR, the famous German watering place,
| concerning reconciliation OF at least mOdHs
| Uiuendi between the Prusian Government and the
! Vatican. few months ago such news would have
| been welcomed by all Germans. the Liberals es-
| Decaly. Now-and this certainly is chaTacteris-
tic sign of the tmes-eveTybOdy Is afraid that Prince
| Bismarck has been making concessions to the
ROnsh church. In order to gam the clerical vote for
| the Government. The Conservatives and the Ultra
mOntanes together have almost an absolute majority,
and may be said to be the majority considering that
the other half of the members is split into not less
! than ten factions.
The result of the elections in regard to the Social
| lists is highly interesting The SOcialistic candi-
dates have suffered signal defeat at the booths,
and vet In nearly every SOciaistic district by far
more Socialists than ever before recorded their
votes In Berlin alone, for instance, IN spite OF the
most unfavOrable circumstances. "a 900 Socalistic
votes more were recorded than at the last election
| This shows that the German nation has been
20 uafa Har