The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1878-09-23

Cincinnati Gazette.
Recent letters from Germany show that
the social as well as the political condition
OF the empire is far from satisfactory. The
Germans have taken pride in their freedom
rom nervous restlessness and selfish hard
ness of other nationalities more given over
to active business, andto looking at every
hingfromamerepec uniarystandpoin No
people were more contented in the simple
home enjoyments, or satisfied with the do
nestle comforts, If we may believe their
own accounts, or the testimony OF stran-
gers who have spent much time with them.
Now, intelligent representatives OF the lat
ter class inform us TINT the Germans are
peevish, irritable, excited, given to pecun-
larry speculation, and in many respects,
changed much for the worse. Even the
skeptical DR.. Schenkel thinks they need
preaching to. He would not enforce the
old religious dogmas, but would enforct
the preeminent Importance of the princt+
pie OF universal love.
There are not wanting other witnesses to
the change, but We have cited q sufficient
nmber. Among the causes Of the deterior-
alton may be numbered the decay OF &C.
copied moral principles, following there
] pudiahon OF the dogmas on which they
were based; the decentralization that en-
sued from the national pride inspired by
the conquest OF France, also the pecuni-
airy initiation produced by the French mil
lizards, and the dtsorganizing influence of
the Socialism OF late so prevalent. Com
munistic theories have no doubt been rem
dered attractive Us offering a possible way
OF escape from a burdensome military ser
vice, while the growth Of skepticism al
ready noticed has provided q moral vacuum
to be filed by them. :,
The most striking proofthat all is not well
Is afforded, however, by the governments
changcofpolicy toward the Roman Church.
A few days ago We had occasion to notice
the fact, previously denied, that the nego-
tiations between the empire and the Nati-
can had borne important fruit. The re-
suit in brief was that while the former
would not recall any OF Its former acts or
pay back fines already received, II would
permit a resumption OF duties on the part
Of Bishops and priests, and would not ex-
act the discharge Of penalties affixed but
not discharged. There may have been
more important concessions notyet made
public.
It is very obvious that the Emperor
that is to say, Bismarck : would not have
Welded so much but for very urgent reas-
ons. The rapid growth OF Socialism and
the two attempts on the Emperor's life
have no doubt exerted strong influence.
but there are other sources Of lneasiness,
| Military expenses have been constantine
the increase; the army and navy calling
for 800, 100000 marks in 1878, against 1885,
10000 in 1874. During these four years
there has been u reaction from the flush
times lust as in our own country. Bis
marck's plans for relieving the burden OF
heavier taxation by taking the railroads
under government control, by u tobacco
monopoly, and by u tax on petroleum,
have not been received with favor. His
suggestion OF the adoption OF n protective
thrift has gained more advocates, but not
general approval. To crown all, the late
elections have been Disappointing. The
new restrictions on Socialism are felt to be
operative mainly in checking its manifes-
tations in certain forms. The snake has
kbeen temporarily scotched, not killed. II
is no wonder, then, that Bismarck, feeling
that he has an obstinate fight to wage
with the enemies of all order, should real
ize the advantage OF coming to terms with
q class OF opponents as hostile as
he to Communism in all its forms; The
treaty has not been published in full, nor
is itlikely to be, Each side has consisten-
cy to maintain, but we should not be sur
prised to discover that the representative
OF the temporal power has yielded to the
spiritual more than has been allowed to
transpire.