The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-02-05

equally repealed and every citizen left to his
own care. These principles were faithfully
adnered to III Prussia while the memory Of
those years of disaster and ruin lasted. On
these principles the ''Zollverein" was Gre
ated, the first and most effective step to
German unity Many years before Golden
gospel OF natural growth of commerce and
industry, the principles Of free trade were
practically prevailing in Prussia. The manu-
featuring interests of the provinces of the
Rh1ne and Westphalia had TO face the con-
trast OF the absolutely prohbitfve French
system; under the paternal rule of Napoleon
L. ana the free competition with England
they proved themselves equal to it. To be
sure there was no boom in those years
put the foundation was laid for a worldwide
industry SOUND and safe
Son tWeLt y years ag) Germany adopted the
system OF high protection. Heroic natures
graceS OF parliament fer the means re-
CURED or desired to run the government.
!hdlrect taxation, affording revenue steadily
increasing without the consent of any mar
kamentary body, is far more cOpgeniaI Even
under this system commerce ard Industry OF
germany made enormous progress. But there
Is doubt IL this growth is as sound and
healthy as it was before. There are many
indications to the contrary. The chief bene-
nclarles or protection more dissatisfied
now than ever before. High protection was
introduced in Germany by virtue of an ALT
ance between the owners of great estates and
certain manufacturing industries. The pro-
SSCIAOA 6iFOH " IHSS6 SO-calIoQ farmers has
increased the price of wheat and rye 25
to 40 per cent Germany is unable to pro-
ouce the grain required to feed her RAPIDLY
II creasng population, and more then 52 600 :
0OO nave to pay tribute for every bit Of
bread they eat to a very small number OF
estate owners, more particularly those Of the
Eastern provinces Of Germany. 1t has been
statlstically established that less than rer
cent of German farmers derive any benefit
at all from this kind of protection The only
unoen1aDle effect Of these duties, levied for
ri hoe hoo q II
10 increase the price of farm land which
was far too high before. crash is unayotd-
aole' and there is no other process Of curing
theSe evils but to reduce the prices of farm
land to their natural value. In the meantime
the German government continues to give
the care OF meek parent for ''the agricult-
urlstS in distress Dealers in e. ain are treat
ed like felons, the sugar industry Is blessed
with increased bounties, and as soon as thesa
laws are put into effect even the most pref
ud1ced farmer in distress cannot help realiz-
ing that he has got no benefit but only harm
Now the good parental government has par
entaify to repeal what it has parentaIly or
dered little while ago, and to think about
new measures for relief.
Fortunately the machine Of government
IN IN, Germany works speedily and smoothly.
to be necessary and DESTROYS, it can be enact
ed in very short time or, If obnoxious, be
quickly repealed. This is one of the strong
est points Of a we'll regulated monarchy
But human nature is the same under mon
archical and republican forms of government
An old proverb says: "He who holds the cross
will bless himself We know from experi-
ence that, under both systems, it is the strong
who cry loudest and get the best though the
monarch may have authority enough to Sc
cure for the weaker classes some glittering
benefits for compensation. Whoever has
watched the history Of the last decades knows
that the strong everywhere have got the lion s
share Take, for instance, the German law
OF insurance for old age. It is a strange COM
pound of sublime motives, red tape and police
control of private affairs and everyday life,
most expensive in its operation and most -
significant in its effects. 1t submitted to
the vote of the people, SO out of 100 would
vote for its immediate repeal. Yet this law
was hailed as the browning triumph Of Bis
marcks gigantic efforts for the poor against
the greed of the bourgeoise 'Parturiunt
montes nascetur ridiculus mus Paternalism
in Germany is just as much of a failure today
as it proved to be 100 years ago.
Yet there never was and never will be a
country better adapted for the success of a
paternal government. A monarch. who en-
joys the confidence Of the people, full Of
energy, sympathy and genius, an admnistra-
ton conducted by experienced, honest officers
a people loyal and obedient to law. There
are some signs Of late, indicating that the
paternal system might be operated with US
as a last resource to bring about prosperity
so generally desired and so often prophesied.
for more than thirty years? Where is the
difference between protection in Germany and
protection in this country? When Prince
Bismarck, in 1878, invited the representatives
of the so-called productive classes, through
his alter ego, Baron Won Varnbuehler, chair
man of the free commission of the German
reichstag, to file their claims against the i'm
perial purse, each one stated he needed the
amount named. for the protection of ma
tfonal labor" Here they call it protection
Of American labor" and the result is the
same. Is there any one simple enough to
believe that any of these benefciaries cared
fig for higher wages for his employees? Are
they not anxious to reduce the scale OF
wages as soon as they get an opportunity to
do so?
Are there still any images Of the Lord not
aware Of the fact that, for instance, our
iron manufactures are far superior to any
foreign iron industry to the cheapness Of
production, inclusive of the raw materiaI2
Is not the same true for many other indus
tries? III there are any interests which only
can be preserved by some maternanl medf-
cine, applied by our government the expense
of which is to be levied upon the consumer,
is it not apparent that such protection can
be obtained only by fostering also a great
many babies strong enough to walk alone in
top boots? Where is the government, where
is the party, where is the congress COM
petent and willing to decide such questions
in accordance with the facts and honest
truth? If we keep our door open to such
paternal system of charity to the classes at
the expense of the masses, we will have
what we have had for more than thirty years
in our government the system of corrup-
ton. Paternalism and corruption are mora
or less Synonymous terms all over the world:
with our institutions paternalism means cor
ruption pure and simple. If our whole politi-
cal life were as pure as it is corrupt, pater-
nalsm would be impracticabIe in our coun-
try, because 1t is impossible without a gov
ernnent able to pass laws without delay or
10 repeal the same with equal rapidity. There
are three factors in our government, each
one independent of the others, and without
the consent of all three no law can be
passed. The constitution Of the United
States is not adapted to paternal legislation
Our system of government is senseless, I'M
less we go back to the old truism, that any
interference OF government with natural de-
velopment will be powerful for evil, but
powerless for good If we desire to try
paternal experiments, we have to change first
our constitution. That such change, peace
full or violent. is unavoidable if our political
parties continue vying with each other for
the palm of corruption, does not admit Of
any doubt. But is it fair, is it reasonable
to condemn the principles of Democracy,
which essentially proclaim this truth that
government shall not interfere and shall not
foster one class Of citizens at the expense
Of the rest, because they never have been
honestly put to the test? / think that this
country has no other choice but to live I'D
TO Democratic principles CT to say good-by to
the Republican form of government
DIR. E. Schrader.