Although I am Chairman of the Society for the
Suppression of Vice, yes, sir. Then I asked myself this: which is
the more important: that we are moral, or that we seem moral?
STROEBEL. Have you found the answer?
BEERMANN. I have. I have become fully convinced that it is far
more important for the people to believe in our morality.
STROEBEL. But you didn't need a Society for that.
BEERMANN. Yes, we did. Just to be moral is something that I can
accomplish in my room by myself, but that has no educational
value. The important thing is to ally one's self publicly with
moral issues. This has a beneficial effect on the family and
state.
STROEBEL. I daresay that this side of the question has not
occurred to me.
BEERMANN. Just consider. Morality holds exactly the same position
as religion. We must always create the impression that there is
such a thing and we must make each other believe that each of us
have it. Do you suppose for one moment that religion would last if
the church dealt publicly with our sins? But she forgives them
quietly. The State ought to be just as shrewd.
STROEBEL. Many a thing you say seems quite true.
BEERMANN. It is true, you can depend upon it.
STROEBEL. Theoretically perhaps. But that docs not change it one
bit. As long as the law prescribes it, these offenses [pointing to
the diary] must be dealt with publicly.
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