New-York tribune., 1908-01-13
TIE REPLY RIOTS.

Riotinc is not to be commended 1t has at
times no doubt, much provocation. 1t may
| have In view the gaining of right ends. But
tho cases are so rare as to be inconsiderable in
which it does not compromise and lnJure the
causes which it seeks to serve and in which
some other means would not be decidedly pref
erahIe On these grounds. however much we
NAV svmpathize with the Berlin rioters of last
week on the general issue involved, we must
deplOrc and condemn their methods. Men VINO
are seeking self government should above all
govern themselves. If they cannot do so IN
the asking there is assurance that they could
or would do so in the attempted exercising OF
that right. They themselves have provided
their enemies with the most potent and effective
arguments against granting their demands.
1t is the greater pity that they misbehaved
| because their demands are fundamentally rea-
sonabe and should be granted. Indeed. we
NAV confidently expect that they VIII in time
be granted. though the riOting may have de-
layed the consummation. Lincoln said that a
nation could not permanently endure half slave
and half free. Neither can an empire per-
manentIy endure half democratic and half ariS-
tocratic or half plutOcratc. II is anomalous
and incongruous that while the empire as
whole is democratic in its suffrage its com
pOnent states. and especially the chief OF them,
should be highly oligarchical. and that while
the proIetarian millions of Prussia can and
do elect their proportional number of represen
tativeS TO the German Reichstag TO legiSlate on
imperial affairs they cannot elect single rep
resentative to the PrIssian Landtag 10 Iegls-
late on local affairs The kingdom is more ex-
elusive than the empire
The system is correctly described by each
and all of the three terms which we have ap-
piled to it. IT is an oligarchy because 1t re-
serves the ruling franchise TO "A minority of the
t. vic hpsgI hat
ruling minority is composed of the so-called
higher classes of society. 1t is a plutocracy
because it is avowedly based on wealth, as in
dicated in the assessment and payment of taxes.
In this last particular, however it is deceptive
and unfair. 1t gives voting power TO the tax
PAYERS according 10 the amount of their taxes
on the face of the bills. but it ignores the fact
that that index is inaccurate and that the large
taxpayers really pay in many cases far less,
and the almost unentranchised poor pay lar
more than appears on the face of the bills. IT
is A perfectly familiar principle that when
direct taxes upon landlord or tradesman are
increased the indirect but no less burdensome
taxation of the tenants patrons is CORE
spondingly increased in the form of higher
rents or higher prices for goods. That is
principle which we have often commended to
the consideration of those who have no real
estate and get no tax bills. and who therefore
vainIy imagine that they pay no taxes. as
reason why they should be cautious and con
siderate in voting for measures which would
increase taxation upon real estate. And the
rule is one which works both ways and which
is an argument for the equal enfranchisement
of those who do not the face of the bills pay
taxes. but who supply the money TO those who
do pay them.
We have expressed confidence that in spite
of the i'll advised violence Of some of its advO-
Gates equal suffrage will III time be granted
in Prussia and the other German states That
s for various reasons. One is that il is right
that il should be granted. 4 second is that it
is logical that the individual states should con
form with the practice of the empire \ third
is that Austria has granted it, Sweden has
granted ii. Hungary is about to grant il, and the
general trend of Europe is so strongly in that
direction that the German states il would
seem. must fall in line. Still another is that
the King Of Prussia is too sfrewd and farseeing
Il statesman not to perceive that in making such
a grant he would be not only anticipating the
inevitable but also greatly ngratiatng himself
with the people and dyerting into channels
Of constitutional monarchy forces which If
refused such outlet, might in time break rudely