The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-02-28
mp GERMAN RIOTS.

| THE GERMAN htOtS.
That there is serious trouble IN GERMANY
Oh. rocent riots leave no room to doubt We
| ~ America are so far removed from the scene
=, troublc that it is difficult fol us TO get q
| x;aw Of IL that we feel sure does justice all
a,ound. Yet there are some things of which we
think We have toleraby fair judgment. We
have watched the course ofthe young Emperor
carefully. and while not quito prepared to
sanction the opinion of those who think him
/ insane. we are prepared 10 say. conceding
his sanity which is questionable. that he
plainly IS not the man for the place he occu-
pies.
German institutions contain much yet OF
feudai servitude. and the popular rising IS
against the remnants Of that system. Inc
bombastio declarations Of the young Eu-
peror. Il am your war lord" The soyerelgns
will is the supreme law" WHO opposes me
must leave the country" naturally hlurni
those who are aiming at remooeihs
Gernany's institutions in the direction
of q freer democratic government ouppoSin.
the Emperor TO be sane. his declarations ihu'-
cate Enthusiastically that he will use al INC
mower of the throne 70 stihe and strange
every movement looking 70 an enialseinens
of the citizens rights aud that ne VIII ou''u
bulwarks around the feudai privileges SUI
held by the titled classes by every heanS
that lie can compass.
We do not hesitate to say that II the a2''a-
ton in Germany aims at nothing but what Is
contained in the declaration OF purposes scat
tered over Berlin on Thursday, that agitation
has our proloundest sympathy. lhdeed' 10
~ who live under Tree democratic govern
ment it is utterly incomprehensiblet that men
sbould have to ask their government to con-
cede to them most of the demands made
there.
1t seems incredible to US that the people
should have to 90 into riot and revolution to
secure m .. and vote by ballot;
the direct participation ". re people IN legls-
lation. with the right to initiate or reject laws,
and the annual revision Of the scale OF tax
alton: a mild extension Of the principles OF
local government and the election OF all pub
lie officials by the people, to whom such
officials are to be held responsible the tram
ing of the people IN arms, so as to form
a national defense, to take the place of
q standing army; the decision o. peace or war
TO rest with the representatives OF the people;
the repeal of all laws prohibiting or restrict
ing free expressions of opinion or the right OF
association or public meeting; religion TO be
matter of private opinion; free administration
of justice. All these matters appear to US,
free citizens of this republic SO natural and
elementary that we are unable to realize or
appreciate the fact that citizens of other cOun-
tries have TO demand them OF their rulers. and
and 20 into riot and bloodshed to secure
them.
The great French revolutions of the last
century was nothing but q rebellion Of the
masses of the people against their feudal
rulers and oppressors, IN which the people
demanded what the Berlin mob asked for.
and in which the French nobility refused TO
concede them their natural and inherent
rights What at the beginning of this centu-
nv was known in England as the agitation Tor
the repeal of the corn laws, resulting in the
great Reform bill of 1892 was no moro than
an uprising of the body of the people against
their feudal oppressors IN which much was
demanded that the Berlin mob now demands.
The Reform bill of 1892 was g great meas
ure. yet it did not cover the whole ground.
Many serious grievances were left unredress-
ed. Consequently the agitation known AS that
of the "Chartists" ensued. These formulated
their grievances and demands under six
heads. They are:
/. Annual parliaments.
2. Universal suffrage.
3. Vote by ballot.
4. Abolition of the property qualification
for membership of the House OF Commons.
g. Payment of members of the House.
G. Equal electoral districts
Whilst the "Chartsts" did not at once Sc
cure the enactment of a law conceding all
that they demanded, yet their demands were
so reasonable that almost all have since been
enacted into statute law. And so it goes on
in all that part of Europe where the tyranny
Of the feudal system is being cast of. France
threw it of by one great CONFUSION, which
flooded the whole face of the land
with blood. England has thrown of
all its most oppressive features by the
slow and far better methods OF peaceful dis
cussion and evolution. Germany is now
rousing herself to a great contest with the
monster. Had her destines remained under
the guidance Of the firm hand and wise dis
erection of Prince Bismarck, she would proba-
bly, have crossed the danger line with profit
to the subject and honor to the throne.
Fallen under the control of o mad or a
foolish boy all that her well wishers can do is
to pray for her in her storms and trials.
COMMERCE. On Tie LAKES