Authors, German -- 19th century -- Biography; May, Karl Friedrich, 1842-1912
Another case brings me to Leipzig, where I, as I have reported on
page 119 [a], have been apprehended forty-five years ago by
unlawful means. This was such a long time ago that the court
records about this have long since been destroyed, because
humaneness demands that such traces shall only last for a very
specific time, and this time is up. Who has now considered the
possibility that the police of Leipzig might also have made notes
about this, which might still be in existence? Mr. Lebius has
recently published them! How does a man like he now also get hold
of the police records of Leipzig? The law permits it!
[a] Fifth chapter, second half of the 13th paragraph.
Likewise, has published the records of my divorce. These are most
certainly of a nature which requires discretion and are none of
his business at all. But the law permits him to do so!
He is informed about everything relating to my lawsuits. Who
gives him that permission, and who makes it possible for him? The
law and the Münchmeyers' lawyer, who is his lawyer as well. Both
are working hand in hand. At one time, Lebius even persuaded my
ex-wife in Berlin to sign a blank power of attorney, but sent this
to Dresden to the Münchmeyers' lawyer, who then filled in the
blanks as he saw fit for his particular purposes. These are only
a few examples from my rich, personal experience with the fact
that the law does not just permit, but even encourages, things
which it ought to prohibit most strictly. Even the most judicious
and humane judge is powerless against this, and this was what I
was thinking of when I said before that I had finally, finally
realised what my task was. About forty to fifty years ago, I have
involuntarily descended to that place where the despised people
dwell, for whom regaining the respect, which had been robbed from
them, is made so very difficult. I have come to know them, and I
know that they are worth no less than all those who only never
fell because they either had never been on a high level or did not
possess the necessary inner freedom to be able to fall. I want to
descent back down to them, now being almost seventy years old, not
being forced, but voluntarily, as my own decision. I want to tell
them what nobody dared to tell them before, this is that nobody
can help them, if they do not know how to help themselves; that
they are doomed, unless they save themselves using their own
power; by sticking most closely together among themselves. I
want to present them with my example, my life and my efforts. I
want to show them what will become of all of their good intentions
and all of their hard efforts, if others lack these good
intentions. I want to show them that a single unfair lawyer or
that single article 193 are enough to destroy even the most
beautiful and best achievements of their strength of mind, of
Christian love, and of humaneness in one blow. I want to tell
them that it is a sin of mankind to conceal their share in the
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account