People's Pilot, Volume 4, Number 6, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 July 1894 — ACROSS THE DEEP. [ARTICLE]

ACROSS THE DEEP.

. The Pride of tiie German Army in the Pr **» nee or Finperor William 11. Prom our Special Corres])ondi>nt_.. Berlin, May 30, 1894. Every American who possesses the slightest tincture of patriotism and gratefulness holds in sacred memory the 30th of May. with all its sad recollections of noble sacrifices. In the north A to do honor to the deeds and memories of a noble martyrdom, and in the south to cherish the memory of brave but misled defenders of a cause that has been forgotten as a real and living principle in the spirit of her people. Sometimes we find Americans in name, whose judgments are so warped and na tures pinched as to regret the hmoi agiven the American soldier. In Germany, where the soldier has not the same reason to defend his country as in Amer- ■ ica, we find in every public f pI«3G, to his memory, and every effort made to respect his martyrdom. Some of the finest monuments of Germany are those erected to the memories of the soldiers of 1870 who carried her banners on victorious fields in the advance upon France. It is a product of the hatred of this war that Europe is so completely armed as she is at present. This ever omni-pres-ence of the soldier in Europe is very noticeable to an American who is so unaccustomed to seeing such costly and dangerous instruments. In my own case it was especially perceptible, since I had only witnessed such warlike gatherings as reunions, which were to celebrate the presence of peace rather than a menace to the “white robed lady.” I also have a vivid recollection of the martial fire displayed upon the streets of Rensselaer last fall by a band of would-be soldiers for gymnastic exercises principally, as well as on the college campus. But an American, in time of peace, does not have much idea of what a soldier means in the European sense.

Instead of witnessing, on Decoration Day, as has been my usual custom, the slow and sorrowed tread of old and war worn veterans as they march to the graves of their fallen comrades, to pay tribute in flower and word, I was in a position to witness another scene, which carried with it a far different picture. Twice in each year the German Emperor reviews the military garrison of Berlin. Of these two occasions the spring parade is the most elegant in appearance, and the Bermier looks forward to this dd.y wiiu great pride and pleasure, and I confess that u vv'uo wim no littie interest that L awaited the coming of May 30th, as I was to see in review unuer uie oi tne Emperor the flower of the German army. This means posaiuly the best trained body of men in Europe and consecpiently the world. To the south of Berlin is a lai’ge open field of some hundred acres, which is retained as the exercise ground of the Berlin garrison. At an early hour on the 30th the Berliners began to collect in squads in the places in this field allotted for the sight-seer. With the full curiosity of a small boy at a circus, I wanted to see it all, and an early hour found me with the rest of the early comers. The first of the armed men to appear were the police, who were driven on the ground in loads and dispatched to their respective places to do pieket duty. They alone numbered many hundred. Soon bodies of soldiers began to appear in all directions, dressed in their most elegantly appareled uniforms. The foot soldiers, with blazing helmet and white trousers, presented a most beautiful picture as they moved with the precision of clock-work-

Whole clouds of cavalry broke forth from the surrounding country, and endless train of cannon equipped for march took position in line of review. The cavalry were especially attractive with their long spears, with small waving banners attached, and the brilliant glare and reflection of their polished armors. There were bands of music without end, on foot and mounted. Each regiment having two —one military band and one martial banJ. They formed in two deep lines across the entire field, each line fully threefourths of a mile in length. It was a varied and ever changing picture as these 40,000 men took their places, dressed and drilled as they were, and one to be remembered by those who witnessed it. I was especially anxious to see the Emperor and Em press, and so stationed myself accordingly. At 9 o’clock all the regiments were in line and the Emperor expected at every moment. It was not long before the most beautiful carriages, drawn by black horses, driven by mounted horsemen, appeared and stopped within easy view of where 1 stood. By glancing down the street I could tell by the waving of hats when the Emperor or Empress appeared. One of these carriages contained the Empress, while the Emperor came on horse-back accompanied by the King of Saxony and his principal officers as well as many Princes from other countries. They all halted within a few yards of my position, and while the Emperor passed from carriage to carriage and greeted the ladies, it was arranged to have an accidental photograph of the royal and notable group taken. After these preliminaries were passed over, the review -.egan by the royal party pass iiig down the front of each lint and then taking his place in the eeuirai part of the field, wiiib each regiment marched by with the proudest step and beariug a' its command, while the strainof the martial airs of German; sent a thrill of inspiration which did not stop with the soldiers alone, but was perceptible ir, the spirit of the crowd. The proud step of the lieutenant and the prouder motion of the drum major, and the fantastic swing of the arms of the kettle-drum beater, was ever a source of amusement to the crowd. The kettle drum is an instrument that is not often met with in brass bands in America, and the playing of this instrument is the most comic sight I ever saw, as it is played in the military bands and especially when mounted on horse. The horse is guided by the spur on the foot of the rider, and the ungainly drums at the side make it appear as two tubs strapped to the man, who proceeds to extract from them music by the most grotesque, irrational, iniescribadle motions that human eye ever beheld. Each regiment passed by twice in different order. The only division that could be well counted was the cannon, and they were about 200, This pa-

geant is only a fair representation of what the armaments of Europe mean, and gives us some idea of the grandeur and magnificence of the military displays at a time when gorgeousness and luxury were the habits of the age. This display suggests the question as the possibilities of war in Europe. I believe, personally, unless things change soon and radically change, war will come. There were never two people who hated each other so thoroughly as the French and Germans. The French were whipped by the Germans in 1870 as few nations were ever whipped, and the pride of the French will never be satisfied until she has lost her rights to national life or has lowered the pride of the Ger mans. Germany has nothing to gain from war but much to lose. France has much to gain and possibly an existence as a nation to lose, for if Germany ever gets the upper hand of her again she will totally anihilate her. Russia has intentions on Europe which will result in a terrible thing some day. England’s policy is separation from the politics of the continent by increasing her navy. Italy is bankrupt in trying to play the great power. Austria has internal troubles which absorb her strength and attention. The growth of social democracy i n Germany and, in fact, all over Europe is a just cause of alarm to the crowned heads of Europe. Russia is making arrests by the hundred for conspiracy on the part of the people. France seems to be bent only on one purpose and that is vengeance on Germany. One thing is not generally understood, and that is the idea which has taken possession of Russian religion zealots that all the Christian people who are not adherents to the Greek Catholic church are radically in error and it is the duty of Russia to compel them to accept the truth. Ti is is a more powerful factor than is generally recognized. The world has evidences of what religious frenzy can do, when started in support of a fanatical cause. Take the religious wars from Europe and you have robbed her of most of her bloody and long struggles. When it comes to the prejudices of religious belief and power, what man will do to maintain his own belief is scarcely limited by any means in his power, however severe and inhumane.

in Europe we have passive war although she has been free from active war about as long is the United States. But her constantly armed position with every threatening presence of active war brings in its tu-on h gh and grinding taxes, low wages, misery to the poorer classes, leading them to socialism in Germany, communism in France, nihilism in Russia, threatening revolution and often repudiation. In our own count y we have peace so far as a (i ed foie ; is ccncerm d. Under no 'rral c mditrons we have order, abundi nee, lo ,v cost of product on and in comparison to the European laborer high W3i£ 6S, JJOo .i { roti-. /lilbj, C mieutimiut auu w.ciare. Tue | conditions in America in the last year have b«ea abnormal. In Europe there is a population to square mile Of about 145 persons; in Unii-ed Slates IS per- | sons. In 1880 the debt of Europe per person was $7 4 73, hi the United Stares *33. >5. i.i IStW but in 1880 had been reduced tu $25. With this armed condition of the nations of Europe taxes can not be reduced. One man in twenty in Europe is under arms; in the U- S. one in 400, in 1880, and the proportion is less now. So far as our real military cost is concerned, including every item that is expended in this i way by our national government, (pensions, standing army, Indian

jtroubles, etc., it is as high as Germany with all its militairism, but this is because the German soldier only receives about 54 cents per day with clothing and board, while the pensioning of old soldiers, so far as I know, is unheard of in Germany. Our cost is mainly that of peace and permitting our vast army of old veterans to enjoy the blessing of peace which their presence stimulates while each nation of Europe under present circumstances is compelled to maintain her armed thousands as loug as her Amazon sisters present the same front. War need not be expected this year.