Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1916-09-04
GEhMANY AND pEMocRAcY.
by Hugo Friedman, ME-, st. Louis,
Member Of German Association of
Engineers, Berlin.
(From Issues and Events.J


There is one fact that appeals
most strongly to me: the compul-
sory military service, which is OF
equal Importance for the life OF the
whole nation as well as the indi-
yidual. Another strong point is
compulsory insurance for all work
men and employees. This insur~
ance-instituted upwards of 25
years agO--proyides indemnities for
any disability resulting from illness,
accident, permanent invalidity or old
age. A new law for the assistance OF
men out of employment has since
been prepared, by which practically
every man is kept from starvation.
Perhaps somebody viii object to
the form Of this legislation as being
autocratic but indeed the under
lying principle is OF the purest dem
ocracy. There is no benefit, no Car
negie gift; it is a right and a duty
that everyone shares; all the mem
bers OF the commonwealth support
those who-through no fault OF
their own-have lost the ability Of
helping themselves. Even the en-
ployers' duty Of contributing is not
duty only, since the system works
out to his own advantage as well,
for the comparatively low wages and
the acknowledged high grade Of Ger
man workmanship are based upon
these healthy conditions of labor.
This institution which has been
partly initiated even in this country
where compulsory measures are
most emphatically condemned, Is an
example Of the best German influ-
once and spirit. It's tendency helps
us to understand many Of the other
institutions and their foundation. II
shows most clearly the general be-.
lief Of that people that such an
enormous organization as a modern
state Of 20 million souls, depending
upon each other, cannot thrive IL
everybody has the license to do what
ever he pleases. Concerning pro-
hibitive measuresAth bis liberal and
free country Of thN S. has realized
some very SIMILAR IDEAS and is now
realizing them more and more. But
as Germany is sheliering popu-
lation nearly as large as the u. S.
in a territory of only one-lifteenth
OF it's size and possessing only
small part of the natural richness OF
this country, the Germans had to do
more in order to meet tho particular
difficulties arising from those condi-
tions They could not stop at few
Of the most urgent restrictions Of in
dividual arbitrariness, they were
obliged to build up system of posi-
tive, productive organizations such
as public insurance, government rail-
roads and educational state institu-
tions.
The spirit Of the people evidently
conceived this task to a high degree
and that is the reason why they
voluntarily support their govern
ment They appreciate an assured
public order so they must have
established authorities to enforce IT,
The authority of their officers is
nothing but the expression of their
own individual will.
Perhaps the United States will de-
velop somewhat along such lines in
the near future. But the German
conditions have come about in an
other way There was q good deal
OF autocracy during many centuries
AS in all the other European
countries from which the people
had to free themselves They did,
and although every expert Of Cor
man life and customs will admit
that there are shadowry remains Of
those former times left, yet that docs
not change the fact that, at present,
their institutions are founded on
broad-minded principles Of common
interest. In such an organization
as the insurance laws we realize the
most splendid instance of what G.
II. Wells, the notorious English
author, calls the Constructive sense
of state" q sense that he missed IN
this country as well as in his own.
There is another fact that / would
/ like to mention in connection with
the so-called German autocracy:
the high moral qualities of their
public officials. They are indeed
speciments OF honesty and loyalty.
Although receiving comparatively
small salaries and being obliged at
the same time to keep up q high
standard OF living, the word graft
! IS practically unknown among them.
Further, we must realize that good
many OF them, especially the judges
| and the mayors Of the great cities,
are not even members OF any politi-
cal party. Under these conditions,
neither looking for money nor for
votes, the officials may easily do
what they believe to be the best for
the common interest, and even those
who disprove of their political
course, never doubt their personal
! probity
In conclusion / would say that on
account Of this broad-mindedness in
matters Of common interest, the
nero form OF German government
must not be compared uncritically
and superficially with other meth
DDS Of governments. The German
type of administration must not be
condemned for the reason only that
it would not suit the conditions Of
another country, but should be
studied and understood from their
own character and intentions. And
| 1t seems to me, now living far away
at distance, that ought to favor
! impartiality, there must be some
thing of the purest, holiest democra-
| cy in this German spirit that the