Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1881-01-01
GERMANY.

Inc progress Oh UerInany Since our laSJ annual
review was published has been unmarked by any
very important or striking events. The general
policy of the Empire developed by Prince Bis
marck has been decidedly retrogressive, however.
The assumed necessity of maintaining an enormous
standing army, and of appropriating great sums
every year to the erection and repair of frontier
fortresses has come to be accepted the first con-
diton OF national existence. Eachyear the resistance
tn the military budget appears to be fainter and
less energetic. But Of the consequences of this
governmental policy is that commerce and all else
is made to give place to military exigeneies, and in
raising the revenue the question is not how best
to develop the resources OF the country, but how
best to obtain the requisite amounts without doing
anything calculated to benefit possible enemy.
In fact, the blood and iron policy of Prince Bis
marck has led to the adoption of an insular, ex-
elusive, stagnant commercial policy. 1t has led
to the introduction of protection in open defiance Of
all the economists of the Empire. 1t has led to the
demand for sacrifices the part of component parts
OF the Empire such must create grave discon-
tent with the new system. We refer particularly to
the case of Hamburger and Altoona. This military
stress has, however, become so much part and par
Gel OF their lives that the Germans no longer
notice it. They are living in great camp, and
ton that had known freedom within many genera
tions freedom such seems to the Arccio.caxon
rs necessary as the air he Sfeithes could not en-
dure tiiis all-perading and exgent paternalism.
And in truth it appears to be sappng the intellect
ual well the social strength of Germany, for
there are incre asing complaints that the educa-
tiona system is not what it used to oe that the
corruption of bureaucracy is finding its way into
the pro:essoriate that men of less comprehensive
culture are obtaining chairs in the universities;
that the literature OF the schools and educational
ceuters is falling off in force and value; and that
the Government taking an interest IN the control
of educational matters, as dangerous and deadly to
the spirit of intellectual progress as similar inva-
sion by the Church would be. We cannot speak
with certainty as to the truth of these charges We
know, however, that formerly very great latitude
was allowed the German professors, and that this
latitude was one OF the attractions which drew and
kept in the centers of educational activity many of
the brightest intellects in the country To bureau
cratlze the universities would be to eliminate
this freedom, and consequently to lower the
general tone Of the system, and this is what
appears to be going on now. very Pc
euiar phase OF German character has been
exhibited in the recent attack upon the Jews The
movement can be only explained as in the direc-
ton OF atavism, reversion to barbarisrn, as it
seems to u.s. Or if not this, it must be regarded as
indicating that German civilization has, in many
cases, only veneered baroarism and not removed
it. There is not nor could there be, sound reason
for such crusade, and the grounds taken by the
educated Germans who have not been ashamed to
lead the assault are such as would appear prepos.
ferrous even to unmtigated savages The
Jews, it is complained, have been too prosperous
They have acquired too much wealth and influence
and financial strength. In word, they are too
civilized for the Germans who frankly acknowledge
their own inferiority, and demand to be relieved
from their oppressive compatriots- conpatriots
whom, a generation or two back, they were abusing
and prosecuting and combining to filthy Juden
Strasses," and looking down on with contempt
The spirit of persecution is the same but it is neces-
sary to assign other excuses for it. 1t is a very
singular manifestation part ofthe German peo
pie. as regards the internal policy of the Empire
the year has brought few changes. The apprehen-
sion of an alliance between Russia ard France
pcrors William and Francis Joseph of Austria The
weight of German dipl ,matic counsel did much to
that European concert the Eastern Question
which eventually became so discordant that Ger
many withdrew, apparently fearing lest the attempt
to bring all the Powers into harmony might
end in setting them all by the The attitude OF
the Berlin Government upon the Eastern Question
doubtless induced the Car TO take less interest in
the surrender of Dulcigno than he would have done
had the formidable backing then secured to Austria
not made the latter the most probable executor of
the remains of the Sublime Porte in the event of a
sudden demise. What Bismarck really expects to
do in that cont gency is. however, as yet beyond
conjecture For the present his purpose appears to
be to cement and consolidate the conquests of the
generation, and so to force the various members of
the empire into accord that it will be possible for
weaker hand than his own to guide thestate whenhe
is gone No man, however, can answer for his sue
cessors and fortunate indeed is he if he can answer
for himself.