Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-03-19
TEE UNITED STATES AND GERMANY.
Interesting and Comprehensive Statement
Of the Causes Leading to the Existing
Threatening Combinations.


Interesting and Comprehensive Statement
Of the Causes Leading to the Existing
Threatening Complications.
The following article, published in the Ar.
gonaut, upon the existing complications be-
tween the United States and Germany, will
be found intensely interesting upon the SUBJ
ject, and to clearly set forth the real causes
which have led to the present irritation be-
tween the two Governments:
It is the fault OF superficial observers to
mistake apparent for real causes, aid moth
ing more fully illustrates this truth than the
current comment upon the existing relstions
between the United States and the Empire
of Germany. 1t is common error to sup
pose that the Lssker resolutions have SONG
thing to do with it. So far from the resolu.
tons passed by the American House of Rep
resentstives having been a cause of the
irritation between the two countries, they
simply afforded an opportunity for 81 exhi.
bition Of an irritation, the causes of which
lie deeper and far beyond the action of the
American Congress. Bismarck did not re-
turn the resolutions because they produced in
his mind or in the mind of bis Government
an irritation, but rather because the irritation
already existed there. To make this plain in
a simple, straightforward manner is the OBJ
ject of this article.
1t is, or should be, well known to Ameri-
can readers that every able-bodied citizsn of
the empire of Germany mu3t perform his
quota of military duty in the armies of the
empire. Every man able TO discharge mill
taly duty is enrolled, and each citizen sub
ject to such duty Is required TO serve. five
years IL the army-that is. in the Reserves,
or Lsndwehr. corresponding TO the National
Guard of California, with the exception that
service in the German militia means almost
daily drill duty. This is almost equivalent
so FIVE years Of a mans lifetime, besides the
labor and discomforts of the service The
facility with which citizens of foreign ccua-
tries may expatriste themselves by becoming
naturalized citizens of America has induced
many Germans TO visit America, and remain
here q sufficient length of time co become
citizsns and return to reside il the Father
land. Add to this the number Of Germans
who come TO America fully intending to re-
main, but who for family reasons have found
it to be TO their interest to return home, and
the aggregate Of naturalized American citi.
zens residing in Germany IS very large. The
German Government is constantly impressing
these people into the military service of the
empire, and the chisf duty Of the American
Minister residing at Berlin is to intercede FIR
this class of Americans, who use their nasu-
radiation papers and certiEc Ates of citizen
chips in he various States Of the American
Union TO protect Themselves against the
onerous military service which is imposed
dpon their GerInsn cOmpatricts. These Ger
nan-Americans, or American Germans, en-
Joy all the protection of government and all
the rights Of ci,izeus in Germany, and st fine
same time escape the military service which
is impcsed upon such of their fellow-cngntyy.
men SIS are SO unfortunate as no. TO have
been nsturalizs ID in tbs United States, After
six months residence in Berlin, Minister Sar-
gent, writing to friend in Americe, ssid
Ny chief duty here is to intsrcede with the State
Department to prevent the imposition of military
duty upon naturalized American citizens who have
returned TO reside in Germany, or who are visiting
for few months their friends and relatives in The
empire The number OF cases brought to my 1t.
teutiOn, involving the question Of American citizen.
ship, is very large.
Il becomes apparent that greater or less
proportion Of all the names enrolled egcape
military duty through the device Of Amer
lean citizenship, ana the Bismarck Govern.
maut is forced 20 witness the irritating spec-
tacls of thousands OF able bodied conscripts.
comprising in the aggregate 6 vast army of
soldiers, exempt from military duty throueh
having lived in the United States a sufficient
length Of time to secure naturalization psDers,
IGs-e can be no doubt that in many in
stances the residence of the German. Amer.
Jean OF the Auer;cac-G in the empire
i much mofs comfortable with s. certificate
Of citizenship Ia America than otherwise. and
there can be no doub5 th1t in numerous in.
stances this citiz snsAip is acquired with refer.
ence 10 tae immunity it wil3 afford from mill
tary duty at homo when the nataralized citi-
zen returns 60 bis FGtherlArd. This constsr {
adjustment Of these cases between tbs Ger
N an Foreign Office and the American Min
i5t5r could scarcely fail TO produce z state cf
irritation and friction be ween the diolc-
matte machinery Of the two Governments.
This ia the first and perhaps tbs least Of the
causes Of irritation.
A second and still moro important one ia
found in the absorption of the German popr.
lstioa, especially Of the male adult p5puis.
siou, from the empire by the American
States. America drains Germany annually
Of p VASE propo1tio Of It's best blood-of Il
best manhood, its best energy and lis most
enterprisins vigor; and particularly is this
tcus as EdrOpean complications ara threat.
ened. The prospect Of o war in Germany
viii send in a single year 100, 0C0 able.bodied
nan to America 1t is the one country that
Of citizenshiD-a country whose expansion
affords unlimited opportunities for ENTERPRISE.
and large inducements for the investment of
capital. as '8sli as high wages for labor. IA
batter illustrating the manner in which thia
immigration from Germany is regarded BY
that Government, it may he stated that the
German Government has forbidden all inrni-
grafton agents from the United States access
within the lines of the empire, and during the
summer OF 1888 seized and destroyed all
pamphlets designed to induce Immigration
from Germany. A very large proportion of
the seizures Of last summer related to the
State Of California, and particularly to the
vine and wine Interests of this State
A third snd still more aggravating cause Of
irritation IS the influence Of American ideas
many, Every shade Of political opinion, noS
absolutely imperialiatic, is regarded by Biz
nerck aad his Government as the raukest
communist The two theories of 'eovsrn-
lnent By force b" and government By cor
sent" contend for supremacy in mi!der or
more aggravated form in every monarchy in
Europe. The great doctrine, that govern.
inent deriges its just power from the consent
OF the governed, which forms Che corner
stone OF the American Republic is so widely
81 ysriaBce with TIE absolutism believed in
aud practiced by bismarck and bis Govern
ren5 IS to be regarded but little less Grim
inal thao treason itself. l. is true. there are
Conmu1ists, Socialists and Nihilis!s in Ge.-
many, whose doctrines and theories are at
en;n,ty with government, in the abstract. Ia
every part of the world; but the adhersats Of
thess isms ally themselves with republican.
ian, and cast measurably q repFoach upon
The adhersnt5 Of q doctrine OF 3 government
by the consent OF the governed. Every vii
lsEe and hamlet in Germany has its infusion
of AmericaEized Germans who, having had
experience Of republican Institutions in this
country, constantly infect the common miad
With ideas of government OF the people, ~
the people, and for the people" The Tmpe-
rial Government understands this far better
thsn the average American editor, and can
scarcely he expected TO feel sGy strorg eenti.
ment of love for the country which sends i.
back citizeDs exempt from military duty,
absorDs its best brain and muscle to state
almoss of depletion, and encourages in it,
subjects political ideas hostile 70 tie form Of
government it is forcing upon the German