The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-20
eERMASE.
Tho Political Disease of Reichsverdrossen-
heit, and fts Causes.

heit, and fts Causes.
BERLTN. Jan. 10-To the many ingenious
compound words that grace the German Ian
RuaNe a new and significant addition has been
made lately and IL spreading rapidly through
the press In the term "Reichsverdrossenhelt."
The ideu contained In "verdrosaen." that OF
wounded feelings hurt" or rubbed the
wrong way" Ia new as applied universally to
the whole empire. The need for a new general
term Of the kind has arisen within the last few
months from the necessity OF describing an un-
easy kline Of feeling. not yet so strong as dis
content or dlsafection. but widely spread
among loyal Germans Of all classes aud brought
into existence In all cases by arbitrary acts In
restraint OF freedom by Government officials.
One source OF uneaslness IL the law on in
suits to the crown, the crime OF "MajestAts-
beleidigunR." or "lase majestic" as IL is COM
monty called. The idea Is derived from the
laws OF the worst period Of the Roman Empire.
and appears TO be working In Germany as dis
astrousiy as II did In ancient Rome. SO long rs
violent utterances In Socialist meetings or
newspapers alone were prosecuted. moth
ing but praise Of the law was heard.
1t has been so extended OF late AZ regards
the press that 1t acts as II rigid censorship.
Even harmless. playful ~allusIons to the Kaiser
are dangerous, as the Imprisonment OF the
editor OF klddderaddtsch shows.
In private life no man Is safe, for a race OF
informars has sprung up that is on the watch
for hasty OF thoughtless words. Hardly news
paper can be taken up In Germany that does
not tell of the conviction OF come unfortunate
person on the testimony OF husband, wife or
child. OF clerk or workman. for unguarded
expressions uttered at home, in the shop or on
the farm. The pleasure of drinking beer is
marred by the thought that the watchers
are listening for any careless phrase. In u
recent case, In which an American was in
VOWED. the informer was q merchant OF high
standing. a Commensurate" and whatever
was said was the utterance OF q helplessly in
toNicated man.
The addition OF the theory Of "dolus erentI-
ais to the law by the courts has extended its
application indefinitely. According to this
theory. IL intent to do one wrongful act is
shown. it will be presumptive evidence OF
wrongful intent In any other act arising indi-
reetly from 1t. 1t was first applied, to lese
majests in order to prevent a Socialist writer
who had used no Objectionable words from es-
Gaping the consequences OF the law. The court
held that 1t could look into the intention OF the
writer. and that IL words could in any way
be construedto be applicable to the Kaiser and
to be not respectful they were actionable. The
convictions under this elastic Interpretation
have shown that the courts are prepared to
StISLCh IL NeTy lar. ShseS are numerous, 100,
whore the accused has been able to prove with
difficulty that the accusation was false and was
brought by the informer out OF spite or IN a
moment OF anger.
A second ground for alarm arises from the
prosecution by the Prussian Minister of In
structiou Of Prof. Hans Delbrick OF the Berlin
University for conduct incompatible with his
position. In publishing in the newspaper which
he edits his views on the recent expulsion of
Danes. Poles. Dutchmen and Austrians from
Prussian territory. TIL Germans have always
been Justly proud Of the freedom of teaching in
their universities. Fears Of Interference on the
part OF the Government were aroused last sum-
mer when. in a speech. the Emperor declared
his intention OF seeing that loyalty should be
taught in schools and universities, and even
Government newspapers asked what his mean
ing could be: the matter was forgotten. how
ever. while the Kaiser was making his
progress through Palestine. 1t was thought
that, at worst. instructors with socialistic lean
ings might be cautioned. Prof. Delbrrick. how
ever, Is no Socialist. he Is q strong Conserva-
tive, a devoted adherent OF the Hohenzollerns.
was the tutor of the Kaiser's dead brother. and
is conspicuous in the university. where he |
teaches history, for his loyal Prussian senti- |
ments.
The law under which he is to be brought to
account was intended only for the removal of
instructors who might do something disrepu- |
table or criminal. His criticism OF a measure |
which few German newspapers have been able
to defend was no more severe than that ofmauy |
journals strongly attached to the Government.
His prosecution. therefore. has all the appear
ance of a deliberate attack on the freedom of
speech. for II Delbrick cannot comment on
Government action with safety. no man in
Germany can. Since the institution Of pro-
nnntnS Of him nm inafrpIntne ~ I aiD,i, |
University has been summarily dismissed. ac-
cording to the K0inische ZeitLng. for pointing |
out. in n scientific article printed in a technical
journal. errors in the trade statistics published
by the Prussian Government. The e~xplana-
ton given was that his article tended to throw
on Government officials.
While these matters disturb the sober middle
class OF Germany, on which Wilhelm II. must
count for support in his resistance to the de-
mands of over 100000 Socialist voters. the
Princes of the empire are worrying
over the Kaiser's conduct in the Lippe-
case. He has shown in this
q disregard OF the respect due to a SOW
ereiRn Prince and an obstinate purpose Of
out his own intentions. notwithstand-
ing the adverse decision Of the judicial body
appointed to examine into the matter. that
raises do uDtsa as to how far Prussia would respect
The constitutional rights OF any Of the smaller
States in case the kaiser's will were thwarted.
seems to be a putting on Of the screws.
a return to forms Of oppression. which the en-
pire was believed to have done away with. and
which. whilo 1t may seem a revival OF the
good old times to some Prussians and Hano-
v~erians, is new TO the people in many OF the
smaller States. like Saxony.
So far the result has been merely "Reichs-
verdrossenheit." an unpleasant sensation that
is going wrong. 1t is newspapers
friendly to the Government that have invented
he phrase. and they seek for the cause in
Iniudicious Ministers who have advised
he Kaiser wrongly. Should it turn out
that Wilhelm III. is himself TO blame for
the fur the wrong way. and should
he screws be turned tighter, some stronger
phrase will be ound to designate the discon-
tent OF the empire. and Germany may turn to
deals other than those of a military despotism.
THE JAPS.