Omaha daily bee., 1910-09-05
Things You Want to Know '@s Hs? s,

The conflict between the autocracy and
the democracy In Germany is assuming
the place Of open warfare The kaiser's
recent eruption and bold reassertion Of
his divine right to rule without any re-
sponsibillty to the people will result in fur
Their gains by the socialists and open agita-
ton against the continuance Of the mon
arChy No one knows why the emperor
chose to break his promise of silence in
such inopportune manner. Perhaps he
had reached the conclusion that he had
made a mistake when he permitted the
Parliament to gag tho imperial tongue.
Perhaps he had decided that the time had
come to lay down the gage Of battle
and bring the republicans and socialists
out into the open in their fight against the
throne. Perhaps he had concluded that
promise Of Il e emperor did not bind the
king of Prussia. Perhaps he merely
boiled over In any event, the effect will
be the same-that is, to widen the chasm
between the kaiser and the people.
If, as some of the most serious German
newspapers appear to believe, the kaiser's
speech was the opening gun of dellber-
ately planned political campaign, then il
Is probable that the German government
has decided upon stil further increasing
the taxes 90 meet the demands Of a larger
navy. 1t never has been secret that the
emperor has been displeased by the sub
seryiency''. of the Relchstag to the popu-
lar c,amor agaist increased taxes. 1t
was necessary for Bismarck in 1852 to
ignore the Prussian Parliament and to es-
tablish virtual dictatorship in order to
make the necessary preparations for the
wars with Denmark and Prussia. 1t may
be necessary again TO set aside the con-
stitution in order to prepare Germany for
another series OF empire expanding wars.
The present situation in Germany is in
essentials not remarkably different from
that in England The country is dis
turbed by unprecedented political unrest,
which manfests itself In a different form
from that In England because of the
fundamental differences in the two sys-
tens of government In Germany. as in
Great Britain. the cause of the political
disturbance is the increased burden of taxa
ton, made necessary by the reckless ex-
pendlture Of money in preparation for war.
In Germany, as in England, this protest
against taxation finds its expression in
demand Tor constitutional reform Of the ma
chinery Of the government in the direction Of
more democratic rule. In Germany, as in
England, all classes of society are notably
unanimous in supporting the governmental
program for strengthening the navy, but the
difference in opinion hinges upon who is to
pay the bills.
In Germany, as in England, the party
of privilege and aristocracy is most in
sistent upon huge expenditures. and is ut
terly unwilling to pay. In Germany as in
England the aristocratic and privileged
classes have an unequal proportion of poll
| teal power, and are determined to use
! their power to shunt the burden of in
creased taxes from the shoulders OF the
rich classes on to the backs of poor masses.
In Germany the people demand political
| reform which was obtained by the British
| nearly 800 years ago--the responsibility
| OF the ministers of the government to the
elected representatives OF the people. With
this they demand in their state govern
ments, particularly that of Prussia, popu-
lar suffrage reform similar in scope to
those which the British people won eighty
years ago when the reform bill was
passed.
While this striking similarity in domestic
politics exists, the two countries are at
loggerheads in the field OF international
politics. England, having the best part
| of the world under its flag, and its Inn
! perial appetite for conquests thoroughly
satisfied, is intent only upon maintaining
its present estate. Germany, on the other
hand, growing rapidly and feeling every
day more and more the need for expansion,
is crlbbed. cabined and confined by a sys-
tenn Of international alliances and under
standings built up by British diplomacy
and made effective by the supremely power
| full British navy. Germany would break
down these barriers and make way for IT.
self in campaign of imperial and colonial
ACKNOWLEDGMENT. This 1t cannot hope to
do until It's navy is strong enough. If not
to overcome, at least to give pause to the
British sea power.
Germany and Britain both are plunging
| recklessy toward the gulf OF bankruptcy,
as has been remarked, by multiplying
dreadnoughts. Both nations pretend that
they are building ships for the purpose of
defense but it is apparent from the tone
OF public opinion in the two countries that
the British are building for defense be-