The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1908-09-16
A LESSON FROM GERMANY.


The younger and more thoughtless
of US who have German blood in our
veins are, perhaps. too apt to forget
the great lessons of German history,
just as the younger Americans. are
apt to forget the lessons which are
impressed on the minds and hearts
of all those who were in position of
responsibility dozen or fifteen years
ago. The young voter who was boy
in 1894. who had not then faced the
serious bread and butter propositions
of life, to whom mortgages and in
terest and eight cent corn were but
ugly nightmares. not grim realities.
is apt to be willing to experiment
along untried ways just as their
fathers were willing to experiment
in 1892. But of the older men, there
are few who have forgotten. few
indeed who will again be led away
by specious promises.
Half century ago Germany was
among the less important European
powers England. France. Austria.
Spain and Italy fairly overtopped
it in international Importance and in
material prosperity. Why was this?
All the elements of greatness Ger
many had. The fields were just as
fertile, the people were just as ir-
telligent, just as hard working. just
as frugal. There was absolutely no
reason why Germany should not have
been one of the greatest of the world
powers fifty years ago. absolutely TO
reason, except, the two great bless
ings which Democracy wishes to
bestow upon America. Free Trade and
States Rights. There was Sachen
and Preussen and Hesse- Darmstadt
and Wurtemburg and the Free Cities
and Bavaria Your father, perhaps.
or at least your grandfather, young
German American friend, can tell you
just how many Kingdoms and princi-
palities and dukedoms and maTgra
vites there were in the great hodge
podge that made up Germany
1t took the Hohenzollerns and their
great chancellor Bismark to convince
the Germans, at times by force of
arms. that states rights never gave
birth to a great Nation. That in
Union there was strength and that out
of the surrender of lesser liberties
comes greater liberty.
Bryan and democracy point the way
to great reforms and they go ahead
until they come to the enacting clause
and then when it becomes apparent
that only by National action can the
reforms be carried through, their fear
of the Solid South causes them to
back and fill, accomplishing nothing.
because of the doctrine of States
Rights.
Bryan promulgated his plan Of
Government ownership of railroads
but States Rights caused him tc
, modify, to retract and finally tC
abandon his position as wholly un-
] tenable.
Another thing which Germany hae
J before the days of its greatness wa
2 Tariff for Revenue Only.
o Each kingdom, each petty prince
] exacted tribute on passing commerce
r but the object, as according t
r democracy it should be. was only t
secure revenue. There was n
; thought of the protection of Germa
C industries and with all the patien
It labor and deep scientific spirit of tn
It Germans their country remained il
e the background while France an
e England took the lead
it We repeat, Germany never bega
to approach her zenith, never attain
I. ed any heights of National greatnes
10 or prosperity until it forsook State
n Rights and adopted Protection.
:. Those who know and love tn
a Fatherland should learn lesson frol
1t it's history. All we ask of tn
il German Americans of this country
that they shall think Think as the
IS did when Bryan threatened Ere
ID Silver, doctrine which he has neve
N repudiated, and which. were b
e President. he might force upon tn
le country by stroke OF the pen. d
(, not be led by prejudice or passion
1T Do not be led by self-seekers who's
st view of national politics is bounde
by a county office.
# 1t was strong central governmer
lie and protective tariff that mac
|. Germany strong and great; tn
J. wonderful, powerful Nation that it
today. Democracy stands for jl.
IS the opposite of these things. State
5. Rights, each state passing jumb
l. of laws which any corporation ca
y dodge with impunitv. and tariff #
j