Show A RIGID government WEBB it not that she has so BO many rivals in power and population the german empire would undoubtedly be today to day with regard to the rest of the world what the roman empire was at the beginning of our era there is more inore iron in the fabric of her governmental system than in that of any other of the leading nations ibis will appear from the following taken from a late issue oi of the public service review the military system of the german empire is the most complete and thorough in the world the birth of every male child to is his enlistment into the military service and it rests with th the e government alone when he be shall ta take ke up his musket where and how 10 long ng be shall shah tarry carry it and when be may mar Is lay y it aside the FAna eror the nander ander in chief fixes the str strength bength of the army and calls upon the legislature to supply the means for its support it if there is refusal or hesitation even the ahe legislature to la dissolved isso ived and a anew new one called military order and military disel discipline pline and military pride reign supreme throughout the empire 1 it to ig the first duty of every officer irom from the lowest lieutenant td the highest general when tie lie visits berlingo Ber berlin linto to call upon the emperor and this high even at his bis present adage varod makes it a p point at to recelle rec elve them all in person so too must absolute deference to sul superior rank be shown by bv ofik officers ers whether in the active or re serve force at all times and aad prompt unquestioning and unqualified obedi ence under all circumstances to is a rule without exception one of germanys germanas Germ anys foreign ministers who held in addition to his diplomatic office the grade of major in the reserve was not long lone ago called from his foreign station to beri lk 1 lin by bismarck marck for consultation upon diplomatic matters when the minister reached berlin he promptly called upon B bismarck an and then paid this ibis respects t to 0 the emperor geror in person who invited a him to dine the next day but be t ore the time for the dinner came the diplomat was ment cent tor for by the military commander of the post of berlin called to account for neglect of his bis military ry duty in not having reported military superior the post commander ni immediately after his arrival and placed in close military arrest the plea of the diplomats dobli obligations actions to the department of state in w which tich he was serving of his bis prompt report to the chancellor aad to the emperor the as well as civic head of the nation was of no avail A military du duty had been neglected and that could coul not be offset by any form or degree of civil obligation or service though not in active military service but employed actively in tae civil service he must pay the fall penalty for omitting a formal military duty by the intercession of the emperor the arrest of the diplomat was suspended long enough for him to dine with the emperor according to engagement but went into full force as soon as the dinner was over and continued for the time ordered by the post commander eight days to appreciate the force of this german system at its full fall value it must be borne in mind that it is not the result of mere temporary regulations or newborn new born orders ord ers it la is the outgrowth of years for several generations men have been born and tired bred to it it Is part of their inheritance and their lives their ambition and their pride are ever at work to support and enforce it sustained ned as I 1 it is by the greatest industry and the highest order of talent it makes the whole power of the nation available at all times for any military purpose to which the rulers may see nt t to apply it it is reasonably certain that none of the great powers of europe would long remain such were they to relax the rigor of their mill military tary systems un less all with concentrated action would bury the hatchet this is a consummation of which philanthropists have dreamed but of the realization of which there is no nd immediate prospect it is appalling to think what devastation would ensue were a nation like the german empire to gather all the strength at its command and make a sudden and desperate leap upon an I 1 antagonist of similar power and resources such as france I 1 |