“BACK TO BISMARCK

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 76, Issue 83, 8 April 1933, Page 13 (Supplement)

“BACK TO BISMARCK

“Back to Bismarck” is a description by a German Minister of the new Fascist lt will have a considerable backing in Germany. Under the Iron Chancellor, Germany rose to greatness. Under Jiini it found its national spirit, consolidated its units of the Germanic peoples, conquered its enemies, and set itself upon that road along which less capable men than Bismarck drove the Empire to disaster. The Bismarckian theory of Government was in no way democratic. To Bismarck the people was an aggregate of numskulls who had to be ruled for their own good by a strong ruling class. A Government’s duty was to rule, and to suppress any ideas of freedom which threatened the stability of the Government and the Constitution. Looking back upon Bismarckian days of hope and pride, the old Germans must regard it as a golden age, and must have influenced many of rhe younger generation to believe that by a return to such methods of Government, Germany may again became a great and welhordcrcd nation. According t'o the Bismarckian theory discipline was necessary if a nation was to achieve anything. Just as the man without self-discipline fails, so docs the nation without a Government to keep it in the path it should travel. This theory is repugnant to those who talk of “freedom of speech,’’ ami “freedom of thought,” and all the other freedoms, but that docs not prove it wrong. Bismarck would have said that one sacrifices certain freedoms for corporate power. The world appears to have come to the point when it must choose between the freedom of speech of certain active elements which seek to destroy the present system, or ’the hard discipline of Bismarckian days. In either way freedom is lost. Stalin suppresses any adverse comment, or any criticism of the huge failures of Socialo-Communism; Mussolini gives castor oil to the free-dom-loving Italian who speaks rudely about him and Fascism; and the Hitler forces beat Communists to death in the sacred name of liberty. The danger one can sec from Bismarckian methods in Germany is th it so far it is difficult to be satisfied that Hitler has the same knowledge and vision as the Iron Chancellor. Biimarckian methods are all very well to’ Bismarcks, but anybody of Jess stature will find them dangerous.—Waikatc Times.