New-York tribune., 1881-10-02
or THE GERMIN ARMY SYSTEM
From The London Daily Neus

From me Lolu0n DdHH heUS'
1t is true that yOung man derives some benefits
from the army; but at the same time his mind be-
comes subject TO a bondage which il cannot shake
OFT for years If ever at all. 1t becomes seryle
mind. Respect for rank has been SO deeply i'm
pressed upon 1t that for long time after his dis
charge from the army the soldier is disposed to
cringc before everybody who ChOO eS 10 assert spe
riority over him. and especially before Government
officials of every degree. If he have become sub
officer officer and passes into the landwchr in that
capacity his SubscrVicncy Will be ten times worse.
He will feel that he still owes obedience to all Off
GERS of a higher grade than his: and that II he de-
velOpS very strong POLITICAL views, for instance, ne
will be liable to be called to account by his suDe-
rlors; The intellect OF the soldier - thus rendered
sterile. Originality of thought has been crushed
out Of it; AID instead of the manly independence
which character.Zes the youth IN Tree country,
and makes him an OutspOken, fearless citizen con-
ident of being able to work ms way 20 any position
he may aspire to by dnt Of ability and courage. the
young German develops an early conviction Junior
tunatcly borne our by facts that TO get on comlor-
ably in his country he must order himself slaV-
islly before all men in authority. member OF thc
German Reichsta2 complained pathctically iew
months ago that most of his countIymen regarded
him as a rebel. lie i3 one OF & Gentlemen upon
whom their Conservative colleagues look with nor
rur az having socially dIsgraCed themselves. They
have set authority at naught; they have Oeen cal
lOus 70 the troWus o whole corps ol land"ehr oil-
GERS who clamOrcd TO them that their sentiments
were sUbversyc; they have incurred the shame OF
forced resignation sooner than hold their tongues
such ObStlnICy seems cynical 10 the minis ol bfr-
man oihCHis; IT argues IN any case S'iolg auolh'
q. moral courage, ,or II - really no Joke Tor
German to fall under the dispieasurc OF corps oil
officers. ~
The arrogan,c Of officers has no limits. They be-
long 10 a superior caste. and behave toward the
public ~ ii they well knew II. They are strictly
polite but their courtesy is of the suurrcllOus KIND
which is intended 10 preclude familiarity, and II
often resembles studied iusoleuce No English duke
could without making himself ridiculous, address an
IN ctior with the calm cold ceTcmOniOusleSs Oi IAN
glagc and manner which German officers use to-
ward persons VINO are beneath them in station; but
the officers not to blame Tor tins alectatlCI lor
l.. l., Of mo- f..
auce of which they are answcTable 20 their brother
officers. II one OF them quaTrels with ClNllan,
the honor his regiment may demand that he shall
fight a duel; but he must not lpIt with person OF
low degree 80 that If he grs into a sCrape with an
inferior lac has option but to resign ii trades
MAI were to strike an officer the latter would DC
justified in drawing his sword and running hln
through the body. Ot this sort occurred some
years ago when an officer was assaulted by baker;
the officer did not Kill bis assaan ana lc was 'Qu-
sequrntly obliged To throw M MS cohllIilsolph MS
colonel telling nim that hc had no business 10 put
himself in the way o. being smltten by baker
~ l. utterly useless To ask hermah Oihcial 10
waive any bit Ot routine in your favor. lie looks
at you II hc Thought y"u tool Tor mahlnS sucn
a prcpOsterous appucatiOn. W hen nc says Nelh'
he means No. without appeal, and any attempt
to argue the point with him would only lead To
padaltIc rcmonstranCc on his part II You happened
10 be- person OF quality, or To your DolnB sum
manly elected rom his ONCE DS 4 Suo"Iulha'c IL
you were not. The German pubic long nahlJuatcu
to thcsc oiiCfa imprTtIucnccs, does not hke them
any better Tor all that. Paccmen are hated and
classes VINO have OutgrOwn the awe which they
ict for officers IN their younger days, when they
were fresh from the army. have begun to take up
the notion that public servants ought not 10 ride
ruughshOd over those who give HIM their wages.
II must be noted that the strongest r"iorners IN
Germany are the persons who have attained iuil
manhood. University students are often fiery
Jewellers before they enter the army but after have
served. many OF them Though not alD show tue
effects of The rough-planmg they have have under.
gone and become lOr a long time smooth and
ohsequiouS Those of them whO graduate as doc
tors. professors, OF lawyers are bound 10 be 50;
their bread depends upon II. If they have too
much innate pride To bend their ncckS before dlgnl-
taric- the best thing they can do ~ To cmIgrate.
Thousands and thousands of Germans do cmlSrate
every year and few OF them ever care To return TO
their country again. Those who make fortunes In
foreign lands have little induccmcnt 10 return and
settle IN Germany for mere wealth cOntcrs but little
prestige there and would neither help them to at
tain public honors nor Ia get admit ancc INTO the
kind of society which riches may command III any
other country. IL cannot be doubted that the
hatrcd-onc may say the increasing hatIed-of tho
Germans for military service IA largely ioscrcd by
the letters sent 10 their friends at home by the Ger
mans who have emigrat"d To the United states.
The free institutions of America offer indeed, such
q contrast To the oppressive mltaryiSn OF the Naor-
land that the patriotism OF peasants aud WORKING
men turus sour as they read OF them.