The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1890-04-29


social wrongs of the people, car
RED their ideas abroad to other
places wherever they took up their
new domicile, and thus very effec-
lively propagated their cause. In
the meantime Bismarck, in his de-
sire to raise more funds for the
army, and to increase the number
of the same, had often to battle
with strong opposition, as when
ever it came to grant large
amounts, and to pile new burdens
upon the shoulders of the nation,
there were other thinking men be-
sides the socialists who dared to
raise their voices against the Chan
ceIlor. But whatsoever was not
with him was against him, and a
so-called Reichsfeind IAN enemy to
the Emplre). Whenever he saw
that be could not get through with
one party, he dropped the same,
making new coalitions and COM
binations with the opposition.
Thus, soon even less enlightened
men saw that the whole Parlia-
ment was nothing more no less
than toy in Bismarck's hands.
When nothing could enforce his
whims and demands, a big war
cry was raised, rumor that neigh
bors were threatening to commence
new fight, and at once every
thing was granted.
Glory demands sacrifices Of a
nation, but the enemy of glory is
hunger. Therefore, the socialistic
party soon grew bigger and
stronger than before, and even in
other parties Bismarck's enemies
increased steadily. Every two
years, however, by some means he
succeeded in getting Parliament
to prolong the socialistic law. If
he did not succeed, Parliament was
dissolved, and the new elections
brought him the desired majority.
Contrary to the constitutions of
other monarchies, where the Cab
met abdicates if 1t finds the major
ity of the legislative body against
itself, IN Germany Bismarck, like
the iron laws of nature, is eternal
and Parliament mortal As long
as senile William |. lived it became
an act of piety toward him to pro-
long the unreasonable stringent
measures against the socialists, al
though they never committed any
other offense than that they tried
to change and improve the condi-
tons of the workingmen in a most
peaceable way. The majority of
the German nation knew very well
that the measure was wrong, and
when the unfortunate Emperor
Frederick III. assembled the throne
everybody expected to see the soci-
alistic law abolished. In fact, it
looked as if he was determined to
govern with. and not against the
majority of his Parliament. But
alas! before he could show his sin
cere intentions, a cruel fate deter
mined his royal career of ninety
nine days. His son, an inexperi-
enced youth, filled with all the
pride and vanity of a feudal mon
arch, and showing a very strong
intention to carry out his own ideas
and to reign according to his own
will. followed him.
What could be expected from a
young hotspur, who was first of
everything else soldier from top
to toe, and who soon after his
ascension to the throne, expressed
himself at public dinner that he
would rather sec every man of his
empire perish On the road than to
give up one inch of his grand
fathers conquests ? Of course the
military party hailed him with joy,
but the nation looked with sorrow to
the future. Bismarck, however,
had long ago foreseen what was
coming, and had therefore in time
been good teacher to the young
Emperor, who proved to be will
ing pupil, and therefore Bismarck's
position, which had been some
what weakened when Frederick
followed his father, seemed again
tie grow so much stronger when
William II. succeeded Frederick.
In the meantime Bismarck tried to
check the spread of socialism by
playing himself off as social re-
former and bringing forth several
very insufficient and imperfect laws
for the amelioration Of the working
classes, which were passed by his
ever-ready Parliament. The climax
of all these laws, and the most in
complete of them, is the so-called
Alterversorgungsgesetz, the insti-
tuition of kind of pension for
workingmen after they reach their
sixtieth year. This was most en-
phatically condemned by the work
ing population of Germany, for it |
demanded that certain percent