Page:H.M. The Patrioteer.djvu/365

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THE PATRIOTEER
357

Guste's company he crawled every evening around the bedroom and made a search. His telegrams to the Emperor, whether emanating from the Town Council, the committee of the "Emperor's Party," the Employers' Association, or the Veterans' Association, the telegrams with which Diederich bombarded the All-Highest shouted for help against the revolutionary movement, fanned by the Socialists, which had claimed another victim; for relief from this pest; for immediate legal action and military protection for authority and property; for the imprisonment of strikers who prevented any one from working. … The "Netzig Journal," which duly reported all this, never forgot to add how great were the services of Dr. Hessling in the cause of social peace and the welfare of the workers. Every new workman's dwelling Diederich built was published by Rothgroschen in a highly flattering picture and was made the subject of a laudatory article. Certain other employers, whose influence in Netzig fortunately was no longer of any account, might encourage subversive tendencies in their employes by sharing profits with them. The principles for which Dr. Hessling stood established the best possible relationship between employer and employed, such as His Majesty the Emperor wished to see everywhere in German industry. Strong resistance to the unjust demands of the workers, together with joint action on the part of the employers, were a part, as every one knew, of the Emperor's social programme, which it was the honourable ambition of Dr. Hessling also to carry out. Beside this stood a picture of Diederich.

Such recognition was a spur to ever greater activities—in spite of the unredeemed sins, whose powerful effects were visible not only in business but also in domestic life, and in the latter, unfortunately, it was Kienast who sowed envy and discord. He declared that but for him and his discreet assistance in the purchase of the shares Diederich could never have attained his brilliant position. To this Diederich retorted that