New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-02-02
SAVING SOC1ET 7.

"Patr,otism." growled Ursa Major. is the ias'
refuge Of q scoundrei." What. then' Sh"' W.
saw Of the savior Of Society? IL nov tha' "
role assumed by every demagogue and Nr"h'
There have been true saNor' oi s"''N' ~
doubt: as a rule. silent men. Bui perhaps '"'
strjdent voice and the theatrical posture are NOV
ircompatiblc with the real thing Al any r"'''
William II is a candidate for such hlstlh'u'"'
never more so than at the hour OF TINS present
writing. when the very fountains OF s"ciai ut-
rest are broken IN and the dolnge seems NJ
hord silent man foresaw Il. and proph"sieG
g., NoI,kc nj Versailles In 1871. Not France.
but Socialism will be the for." II Is curious
,a,. that makes the silent man the prophet.
and the garrulous man the fulhller Of III"
prophecy.
To this task then. William promptly addressed
himself saying In his first speech from the
throne that It was his desire 10 help In "equaliz-
ing unhealthy social contrasts" and again that
No stood high above parties and party conflicts
and was therefore equally devoted to the welfare
OF ALL But In almost the same breath h" spoke
Of the different classes OF his people. and openly
identified himself with the Conservative party
IN politics The famous Berlin international
Labor Conference followed, with which ne doubt
less hoped TO scotch II not 10 Kill the snake or
Socialism; and upon Its heels general election
for the Imperial Parliament. in which the Social
Democrat Is wor thrty-five seats. clear gain for
them Of twenty-four Perhaps this result was
partly due TO the Emperor's own mad prank Of
calling all his soldiers Into the streets Elec-
ton Day and thus practically saying TO the
voters. you have ballots but have bullets"
II happened that the Social Democrats had more
ballots than he had bullets. or more electors
4 .l,,.,
AGO 900 votes. with a vengeance the prophecy
of the silent seer was being fulfilled
The aid Of church and school was next sought
in the campaign against Socialism The May
Laws" were repealed. as a bid for Roman Cath
Ole support The Pruss!an Ministers
dered TO revise the whole school system, so
TO counteract the spread Of Socialist and Com
munist ideas ain about three months time they
had elaborated a set of rules for future applica-
ton in all schools, which prescribed that the
elements Of political economy should be added
10 the subjects hitherto taught. and that great
stress should be laid the immense. the inn
mortal merits OF the HohenZolerns sOvcr-
.ipns OF the most unselfsh and most benefcent
kind" More than that. a bin was actually
prepared by Imperial command virtually hand
ing over the schools 10 the control of the clergy
of the Roman Catholic Church. and 1T WAS
forced through Parliament. But public opin-
ion swept It out OF existence. the unlucky Minis
,ers who had served as Williams clerks In
drafting IT were sacrificed and a new Chan
cellor crisis came on just two years after the
dismissal OF Prince Bismarck. The Emperor
personally stood his ground ard said that all
who did rot like his way OF governing had
better emigrate He declared that he would
persist in his work. II am helped by my feel
ing OF responsibility to the Ruler of ALL and
the firm conviction that He will not leave me
I'm the lurch. We called to great
ness and to glorious days will lead you. My
course is the right one. and | shall continue to
steer IT," These were brave words and were
emphasized with a demand for more soldiers
The answer came promptly The Socialists in
creased their number in the Imperial Parliament
from thirty-hve to forty-four. and on the ami
versary Of Sadowa
Now arose a controversy with the Agraran or
Agricultural party These had suffered much be-
cause OF the tarif- with Russia and their
complaints to the Emperor were bitter. His
reply was characteristic. substantially 1t was:
believe In me and we shall be saved" He
dwelt much upon the Socialist peril. and exorted
hands with him ir saving society. Firaly. to
win their favor ne sacrificed his Chancellor The
noble. generous. chivaric Capriv was thrown
overheard even more inconsiderately than Bis
marcl had been few years before and Prince
Hohenlohe was put in his place. The new Cnan-
ccllor signalizei his advent by an attemp; to
prosecute for lcze-majesty all members OF the