Page:Karl Liebknecht - Militarism (1917).djvu/115

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MEANS AND EFFECTS
83

conserving" way of thinking. That "educational" purpose of the system was avowed with touching unanimity and frankness by Chancellor Caprivi and the representatives of the ruling classes in the Reichstag debates on the premiums for non-commissioned officers, in February, 1891. Thus, after the corporal had to leave the teacher's desk, the conservative ideal of our popular educational system has fortunately arrived again by a devious route at the non-commissioned officer.[1]

True, the educational results are very meagre ones. The poor fellows with their military claims for subordinate positions are too badly paid. After all, even a German non-commissioned officer is not to be had indefinitely for a pittance and the honor of serving the King of Prussia.[2] It is the eternal problem of buying up the revolution!

In this connection it should be mentioned that the same methods which are employed to arouse and to keep alive the military enthusiasm of the


  1. Liebknecht here refers to the former custom of making old superannuated soldiers school-teachers. [Translator.]
  2. There exists in Germany a kind of union of these officials—The Association of German Military Claimants of Civil Employment.