New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-08-25
THE PROGRESS OF GERMANY
What Imperial Rule Has Given Her
People.

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: Some few days ago | tried 70
explain to your readers Germany
standpoint from an historical point Of
view and IN the meantime have wit
messed veritable food of letters, pro
and con, most of them trying 20 con-
vince By inyective rather than by calm
argument.
II appears TO me that the chief griev-
ance against Germany haroored BY
most OF your correspondents is based
On the idea that that unhappy country
is ground under the iron heel OF its
autocratic ruler. Our dear countrymeu
take IL for granted that real liberty
cannot possibly exist under any other
form of government than the one W.
enjoy In our United States, irrespective
OF the fact that other countries may
seek and find their happiness and lib
Crty by working out their destiuies
along different political lines.
What's In a name? Shall we accept
II as aXiomatic that there is more lib
trty 10 be found In France. just be
cause she is called republic. than IN
imperial Germany? ! think everybody
who has become intimately acquainted
hat there is far more Capitalization m
The republic than in the empire; that
the members of the German federation
ard the German municipalities enjoy
much more home rule than the French
Departments and cities; that the empire
has gone considerably further i'm state
sJcialistic measures and in welfare
work; that. for instance. the stupen-
dous work Of indemnity insurance
against accidents, inva.dism and old
age. disburslng more than Sl20,000,00
per annum, has been built up on truly
democratic lines, by applying the prin-
Gplc of home rule and elf-administra-
tion through the trades themselves in
a quite remarkable manner.
II we desire 20 know the truth about
modern Germany. let US first forget
that old half-truth about mOnarchical
government in any form and By itsel /
being inimlcal to healthy development.
The French republic during the
forty-four vars of its existence has
used up something like forty-seven
ministries. each new prime minister
naturally bringing into his Office new
IDEAS, new principles. new interpreta-
tions Of the eyer-changlng conditions
and requirements Of his country's poll
cies. 4 new hand at the helm once
every little while.
On the other side OF the Rhine the
German Empire. continuing without
interruption on its steady course )f
systematic progress in all the arts If
peace and industry. II all we have
been told of Germany's marvellous
commercial and industrial expansion
curing the last quarter OF a century 9
ta sed on solid facts. IL hardly can be
imagined that such a development can
be engineered only by the edicts Of an
autocratic ruler. without the help Of
I'm active. sell-assertive body OF free
men. able 10 outstrip their competitor
by intelligent initiative
II is true. at present the remarkable
personality Of the Kaiser overshadowS
90 a certain extent his many co-wcrkers
IN the busy German workshop. but 10
seems 20 me We Americans are falling
into mistake il we assume prlori
that the modicum of liberty enjoyed by
country rs absolutely dependent upon
its form o. government.
Every nation has 20 work out it,
political salvation. It's progress toward
real liberty. IN accordance with the re-
quirements OF the national character.
Even our United States did not accept
the British Magma Charta as a pattern
IN shaping their constitutional govern
ment, Swi.zerland's political ideals