[Footnote F:  Bolko v.  Katte, in the Kreuzzeitung of November 18, 1910.]

Both objections are unconvincing.

So long as the State uses the proceeds of the inheritances in order to liquidate debts and other outgoings, which would have to be met otherwise, the devolution of such inheritances on the State is directly beneficial to all members of the State, because they have to pay less taxes.  Legislation could easily prevent any accumulation of capital in the hands of the State, since, if such results followed, this right of succession might be restricted, or the dreaded socialization of the State be prevented in other ways.  The science of finance could unquestionably arrange that.  There is no necessity to push the scheme to its extreme logical conclusion.

The so-called ethical objections are still less tenable.  If a true sense of family ties exists, the owner of property will not fail to make a will, which is an extremely simple process under the present law.  If such ties are weak, they are assuredly not strengthened by the right of certain next of kin to be the heirs of a man from whom they kept aloof in life.  Indeed, the Crown’s right of inheritance would produce probably the result that more wills were made, and thus the sense of family ties would actually be strengthened.  The “primitive German sense of law,” which finds expression in the present form of the law of succession, and is summed up in the notion that the family is nearer to the individual than the State, has so far borne the most mischievous results.  It is the root from which the disruption of Germany, the particularism and the defective patriotism of our nation, have grown up.  It is well that in the coming generation some check on this movement should be found, and that the significance of the State for the individual, no less than for the family, should be thoroughly understood.

These more or less theoretical objections are certainly not weighty enough to negative a proposal like that of introducing this Imperial right of succession if the national danger demands direct and rapid help and the whole future of Germany is at stake.

If, therefore, no other proposals are forthcoming by which an equally large revenue can be obtained; the immediate reintroduction of such a law of succession appears a necessity, and will greatly benefit our sorely-pressed country.  Help is urgently needed, and there would be good prospects of such law being passed in the Reichstag if the Government does not disguise the true state of the political position.

Political preparations are not less essential than financial.  We see that all the nations of the world are busily securing themselves against the attack of more powerful opponents by alliances or ententes, and are winning allies in order to carry out their own objects.  Efforts are also often made to stir up ill-feeling between the other States, so as to have a free hand for private schemes.  This is