Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-12-27
GERMAN SOCIALISM.
The Strong Tendency of the Ruling
Powers in That Direction the
Subject Of
COmmentThroughOut the Empire-Prus-
sia's Extensive Purchases of
Private Railroads.

the strong Soclallstlc tendency which dur
ing late years has marked the attitude OF
the ruling powers in Germany in regard to
matters of internal concern. This ten
dency has been strikingly manifested in
the extensive purchases by the Prussian
government of lines of private railway. In
1876 according to our correspondent fig
ures, the State owned twenty-seven per
cent. of the total mileage. During the sue
ceeding five years, especially in
the last two years OF the period,
the policy OF converting private
into State railways was carried on
with SO much vigor that, at the beginning
of 1881, the State owned fifty per cent of
the total mileage. This policy of acquisi-
ton has since been steadily pursued, and
at present the Minister OF Railways is ne
gotiatiAg with the managers of the princi-
pal yet existing private railways, with
view to the purchase of them by the gov
ernment. To such an extent has the ex-
istence of this policy become recognized
fact, that the principal movements on the
Berlin Stock Exchange ut present are
owing mainly to the circulation of reports
regarding the government plans for the
purchase OF particular private railways, or
the offers made to the companies in pur-
suance of these plans; speculation in the
shares of the companies becoming more
or less animated in proportion to the
reported offers. 1t is somewhat curious
to notice the change which has come
over the governments way of looking at
the railway question during recent years,
a change probably due to the growth IN
power of the Democratic elements in the
State. The purchase OF private railways,
or the construction OF railways by the
State, was formerly justified on strategical
grounds, stress being laidlon the necessity
of being able to transport large bodies OF
troops quickly, in case of necessity. VI
late, however, the supporters OF the gov
ernment policy have based their justifica-
ton of it on other grounds. They now
declare it to be an anomaly that extensive
and important routes should be the prop
erty of private companies, that the price
OF the transportation of people and goods
should depend on their will and favor, or
even that the safety of the lives and prop
erty of citizens should be intrusted to
their control. 1t is urged, in addition,
that the possession OF the railways by the
government will render more econom-
ical service possible, and will enable the
government to fix rates not solely with
reference to the dividend-paying value of
railway shares, but principally with regard
to the development of commerce and in
dustry. 1t is well understood that the
policy which has been carried out so far
in Prussia is not to be confined to that
kingdom, but that upon the completion of
the system there project will be brought
forward for the purchase of all German
railways by the empire.
1t is not alone in respect to the railway
question that the tendency to which we
have referred to is manifested. The acci-
dent insurance bill, providing for the COM
pensatiOn of workmen in case of accident
in manufactures and mines, is strongly
socialistic measure. What was not less
significant than the features of the bill it.
self, was the declaration made when the
bill was first moved that it was the gov
ernments intention to do away with pri-
vate insurance companies. OF late the
government organs have shown a hostile
spirit toward the fire and hail insurance
companies. Some charges have been
made against the management of these
companies, and the partisans OF the gov
ernment projects have made the most of
them as arguments i'll favor of State insur-
ance. 1t is even said that the life insur-
ance companies, whose management has
been in the main remarkably free from
criticism, have attracted attention OF the
government, and that an effort will be
made to absorb them also. Not the least
remarkable of the socialistic schemes pro-
JCSlCh III pCIlldllS vi 10 JlldJ illcll-
toned by our correspondent, namely, an
imperial institution for the support OF all
who have become unable to work and who
are without means of subsistence of their
own.
The eXistance of this strong socialistic
tendency in what has been for over de-
cade the most influential country in Eu-
rope is among the most interesting facts OF
the time. The current had begun to set
in the direction it has since taken before
it was recognized by the chiefs of the
State, but there can he no doubt that
much of its present strength is due to the
influence of Bismarck, whose economic
principles have undergone marked
change within the decade. That remark
able man was formerly an adherent of the
doctrines of the English school of political
economists, but at present his favorite
counselor on economic subjects is among
the most radical of the PROFESSIONAL So
cialists. Bismarck's sincerity has been
questioned, but all speculation upon that
point must of necessity be profitless. He
has at all events q consistent theory upon
which to Justify his adoption Of socialistic
principles. In the discussions on the law
for the repression of the Socialists he de-
clared that he did not expect to cure the
masses of the disease OF social democracy
by repressive measures alone. Something
more was needed, ne said, than external
remedies. The social dpnloGFats, ne said,
had hpiIt upon weli-grounded discomfort
of the people, and he proposed to win
back the masses for king and fstherland
by removing the grounds of discomfort,
which later hs declared to be of an eco-
nomic character And later, in the "mo-
tive" accompanying the accident in
surance bill, he declared that it was not
only a duty demanded by humanity that
the State should care for its poorer mem
bers in a higher degree than it had for
merly done, but that it was measure re-
quired for the preservation of the State.
A sound policy, he said, should hourish
in the INDECENT classes Of the population.
which are the most numerous and the
least instructed, The view that the State is
a beneficial as we'll as necessary arrange
ment, and that legislative measures should
bring them direct, easily-perceived ad.
vantages. In other words, the State, in
order to exist in modern times, must take
account, to a degree not before NECESSARY,
OF the needs, sentiments and aspirations of
its poorer classes-that is, OF the great
majority OF its citizens-and must en-
deavor IL SATISFY them 10 as great an ex-
tent as possible, but the adoption OF any
such principle, il will be seen, opens the
way to vast and practically limitless
field of State activity, and one in which
the experience of the past has little to
offer by way of guidance. Whether even
Bismarck will be able successfully to ap-
ply this principle in the field of practical
legislation, Iensins to be seen.
! '.t, u -LAL---n = - -.
The Growth or Soci.ytxr,