THE RIGHTS OF MAN

A ghost with the bearing of Metternich walks in Germany again. An emergency decree empowers local authorities to stop gatherings which they regard likely to disturb public order, to suppress papers which attack religious organizations, slander public figures, or incite to violence, and to dissolve any societies which fail to keep the peace.

German newspapers are reluctant to bless the "violation of constitutional rights," but in general approve the measure as expedient. As a matter of fact, the Metternich spirit lacks its old rigor and the "curtailment of civil liberty" probably will impose little restraint in practice. The official Prussian press has been careful to explain that there would be no interference with orderly meetings and that the decree is directed only against abuses.

The situation in Germany is one which warrants extraordinary police measures. The recent murder of a Communist Deputy in Hamburg was an extreme manifestation of the violent tone which has become prevalent in political circles. Anti-Semitic and anti-Republican propaganda in the last few months and the threat of Communist anti-religious agitation at Easter finally provoked the Government to pass the emergency regulation.

It is easy to point to the futility of restrictive measures throughout the nineteenth century and to conclude that Germany's move is ill-considered. Complete civil liberty, however, has never been accepted as an administrative maxim. In this country, federal customs restrictions, state prohibitions, provide for censorship and deny the right of free meeting. Unless the application of Germany's decree is extremely rigorous, the Fatherland need not be ranked with Italy and Russia as a post-war despotism.