Now-editorial Notes

In order that I may be able to devote more time to my literary work, I am relinquishing the editorship of the Jewish Daily Bulletin, but will continue my connection with this newspaper as contributing editor, through my column of comments on people and events, “Now,” assuming responsibility only for the articles bearing my signature.

Herman Bernstein each people has a right to its own cultural existence. But just as individuals differ from one another in value, so do individal peoples. Each of them is to be valued according to its achievements for the general culture of mankind.

“We do not know the purpose of man; but since we feel ourselves a part of that power under whose iron laws, mighty and eternal, the cycles of existence fulfill themselves, we feel and see that all life proceeds in perpetual struggle against the forces of destruction, but yet with steady progress for that which is imperfect to that which is more perfect. We feel and see that order overcomes chaos, reason unreason, and love hate. We feel and see that our existence too aspires to a rational and more perfect end. Out of this consciousness is born the ethical sense of duty which we have, the dictates of which impel us to bring our own actions into harmony with the mighty laws of existence, making reason, order, and love the measure of our activities.”

Dr. Schacht has forgotten all these fine phrases. At that time he held that his institution, the Reichsbank, was intended to pass “from the seemingly material effort to the ethical progress of mankind.” He seems to have forgotten all about “moral education,” about each people having a “right to its own cultured existence,” about the “ethical sense of duty,” about the dictates which “impel us to bring our own actions into harmony with the mighty laws of existence, making reason, order and love the measure of our activities.”

And just as Dr. Schacht has disavowed his “moral education,” his “ethical sense of duty” and “reason, order and love” as the measures of his activities, by identifying himself completely with Hitlerism, so he now disavows Germany’s financial obligations to other nations.

Dr. Schacht now says:

“Germany will not pay those coupons to America because we haven’t got the money available. And what is more, those special arrangements for payment to England, France and other countries won’t do them any good. They just simply won’t work…. But the United States need have no fear, as far as Germany is concerned, in this matter of debt payments, for the United States will fare no differently at our hands than any other country….

“Germany is the most democratic country in the world today. It is not a mere majority rule here in Germany today, such as obtains in the United States and other so-called democratic countries, but an overwhelming majority.”

Then he added:

“Economic freedom is an abuse…. Hitler is conservative in all matters pertaining to economic questions. He believes in profits—we all do—as the one and only source of industrial prosperity…. We must make money, and the way to get it is by making private enterprise profitable. There is no other sane and sound way. It is the way Germany will pursue; make no mistake about it.”

This is the new Schacht, the Nazified Schacht. His “moral education,” his “ethical sense of duty” and the period of “reason, order and love” as the measure of his activities,—all these belong to the past.

Now Naziland is busy exterminating the ideas and ideals of intellectuals and liberals and pacifists, in stamping out freedom of conscience, freedom of the press and religious freedom. And Dr. Schacht is helping to undermine Germany’s moral and financial credit in other lands.