The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-09-21
HIRSCH ANSWERS
THE REV. Mr.. MELLEN.
Two Newark C1ergymen Who Disagree
as to the Value of the Teutonic Ele-
ment in the Worlds Progress.

meuL IN LuC WOTLu , 6IOBICbSs
To the Editor of the Evening Star:
In the edition of your paper Of September
7 an interview with the Rev. II. M. Mellen,
of this city, on Germany appeared. The
statements made show such unripe judg-
ment and lack of knowledge of the real
situation in Germany that a discussion OF
the matter under, ordinary circumstances
would seem unnecessary. But in consider
alton Of the fact that statements publicly
made by men holding a position like Mr..
Mellen do haveN a far-reaching influence,
and in further consideration of the custom
ary Kindness with which our American
people take statements of clergymen as
granted, I consider it my duty to show that
they are incorrect and misleading. There's
fore, l ask you to kindly publish this
letter.
The collecting of statistical material
caused a delay in Immediately refuting the
false deduction drawn. 1t was my purpose
to furnish such evidence that everybody
could clearly see what the actual situation
Is. IT Ia not for the sake of Germany that
/ do this, 1t is for unfolding the truth IND
eliminating such causes which are only MT
TO estrange. For an ~unfavorable criticism
as given in that article lowers Germany
in the public estimation and is felt as a
slap in the face of the German people.
The best men of this country and OF GER
many unite In an endeavor to make ootn
nations acquainted with each other and
their ideals to the end that they learn 70
| respect and like one another as friends
81 consider" said Hon. Andrew d. White,
the educator, author and statesman, "tnat
no function of a. representative OF a Tor
eign power is higher thar that to work
for a mutual understanding and a hearty
relation between nations-the one he comes
from and the one he goes to-" An emil
nent nan said: I'm general wo do not like
people we do not know"
I think that all those who, by their abii-
ity and position, are called to educate others
should cooperate In that noble task and
use their utmost influence to make friends
out Of strangers and not the contrary.
Mr.. Mellen says: II bound I'M Germany
whers / spent more time h in ony other
single country, that beer-drinking is on the
increase-an alarming ncrease-and the
excessive use of the drink Is having a bad
effect on the German people. Everybody
there drinks beer, men, women and chill
dren, and the cafes or saloons are open
nearly all the time. > From talk
ing with people of all classes and watching
them closely, I am confident that the Ger
mans, as a race, are suffering from the
habit"
Here are the official reports Of the con-
sumption of alcoholic beverages in both
countries, as given by Consul-General r.
7 Wynne. of London, taken from the an
nual report of the British Chancellor OF
the Exchequer. They show that beer
drinking in Germany decreases and in thu
United States increases. German consump
ton decreased for 1901-1905, from 27.3 gal
Ions per head to 1858 gallons. while In thu
- -. $50 l.. 49, ~Apt1I a. IN
creased from 14.6 gallons to 1853 gallons pc
head. an Increase Of 90 gallons for thu
United States, and a decrease for Germany
Of 1 gallon. The consumption Of arden
spirits shows. an increase for the Unitet
States during 19O1-1905, from 11S to IL
gallons per head, and a decrease In Ger
many from 1853 to 1.43 gallons per head.
The excessive use OF alcohol in its effec
on the brain is shown by the following re
ports: At the tenth international congress
against alcoholism in Budapest in Septem
her. 1905. it was stated that Sc per cent. o
the insane cases In the asylums OF Ger
many were the result of intemperance
Accurate figures OF the situation In tn
limited states cannot be obtained, as tn,
statistics are not complete, but a repor
on lunacy in the State of New York show
that within the year, lii September 30
1eM. that Of 5,7S8 patients admitted 7H wer
incorporate. Taking off 1871 cases IL
which the cause of insanity could not b
ascertained, it appears that IS per cent. o
the insane for the State of New York ar
the victims Of intemperance.
A reliable observer Of the conditions ii
both countries is Hon. Andrew D. White
He says: Like every resident and visito
OF Germany, l have seen great crowd
drinking much beer, and, though I great,
dislike hat sort Of guzzling, 1 never say
anything of the beastly, crazy, drunke
exhibitions which are SO common on In
dependence Day and county fair day 1
many American towns, where total abstin
ence is loudly preached and ostensibl,
} practised. Least of all do 1 admire tn
beer-swilling propenslties of the Germa
students, and still / must confess that
have never seen anything so wild. wicked
outrageous and destructive to soul an
body as the drinking of distilled liquor
at the bars which, In my student days,
saw among American students. > ]
Is my earnest conviction, based upon wild
observation, in my own country as we
as in many others, during about half a Ger
fury, that the American theory and praC
tise, as regards the drink question. ar
generally more pernlcious than those c
any other civilized nation"
According to the statements made b
Mr.. Mellen one should think that the Gel
: man nation Is degenerate and doomed /
destruction within a short time.
1t is strange that at the same tim
as this startling accusation brought befoI
the public American professors, captain
Of industry. and many other wide-awah
} men return from Europe and find hardl
words strong enough to express their a,
! miration over the wonderful developmeI
4 and progress made in Germany, the coul
try of thinkers and philosophers. Clinoi
p. Egan, a member OF the commissie
which was sent from the Department
) Commerce n Labor in Washington