ore careful of the promises it makes,
because it knows that it may be called upon to fulfil its promises and
to carry out the policy it advocates. In Germany there is no such
possibility. The Opposition is only platonic. It is doomed to
impotence."

XIV.--THE SERVILITY OF THE GERMAN UNIVERSITIES AND OF THE CHURCHES.

"It has often happened in other countries when the expression of free
opinions has become dangerous or difficult that independent political
thought has taken refuge in the Universities. Even in Russia the
Universities have been a stronghold of Liberalism. In the Germany of
the first half of the nineteenth century many a University professor
suffered in the cause of political liberty. In the Germany of to-day
the Universities are becoming the main support of reaction.
Professors, although they are nominated by the faculties, are
appointed by the Government; and here again the Government only
appoints 'safe' men. A scholar who has incurred the displeasure of the
political authorities must be content to remain a _Privatdozent_ all
his life. _The much-vaunted independence of the German professors is a
thing of the past._ They may be independent scientifically; they are
not independent politically. It is not that scholars have not the
abstract right to speak out, or that they would be dismissed once they
have been appointed; rather is it that they would not be appointed or
promoted. A young scholar with Radical leanings knows that he will not
be called to Berlin.

The German Universities still lead political thought; they still wield
political influence, and their influence may be even greater to-day
than it ever was, but that influence is enlisted almost exclusively on
the side of reaction.

And what is true of the Universities is true of the Churches. Of the
Roman Catholic Church it is hardly necessary to speak. _Non ragionar
di lor, ma guarda e passa._ The history of German Catholicism proves
once more that the Church is never more admirable than when she is
persecuted. During the Kulturkampf the Catholics stood for political
liberty, whereas the so-called National Liberals stood for State
centralization and political despotism. To-day, from being persecuted,
the Catholic Church has become a persecuting Church. She has entered
into an unholy compact with the Prussian Government. She has ceased to
be religious, and has become clerical. She has ceased to be universal.
She has become narrowly Nationalist.