Los Angeles herald., 1910-11-27
Socialist Leader in the ReichStag
Paints SCornfuI Picture of
WiIheIm'S Ancestors
LEDEBoUR DEFIES EMPEROR
Chancellor Replies, Declaring
Prussian King Not Subject
to Popular Sovereignty
ASSOCIATED Press)

BERLIN, Nov. 26.-The reichstag
was occupied today with a discussion
of the speech made by Emperor Will
liam at a provincial dinner at Koe-
nigsberg August 26 during his tour of
Eastern Germany.
The varied and conflicting sentiments
aroused by his remarkable utterances.
| intimating a continued belief in the
divine right of kings. was given full
| play. The debate was bitter through
out.
In his Koenigsberg speech the empe-
ror, after saying that his grandfather
| had seen in himself the chosen instru-
ment of heaven and so proclaimed that
the Prussian crown was bestowed on
him by Gods grace alone, intimated
that the convictions of Emperor Will
liam and his own were identical, and
added:
considering myself as the instru-
ment of the Master, regardless of pass
ing views and opinions, l go my way,
which is solely tNvoted to the prosper
ity and peaceful development of our
fatherland."
In expectation of prolonged discus
sion the house met two hours earlier
than usual. Few of the members were
absent and the galleries were crowded.
HOHENZOLLERN SCORED
Herr Ledebour, one of Socialist Lea
der Bebel's- --most gifted lieutenants,
supported the Socialist interpellat. on,
inQuiring what the chancellor thought
of the emperor having departed from
his declarations made in November,
1908, through DR.. Won Bethmann- oil
veg, concerning his majesty's position
in the state.
Two years ago his majesty approved
statement in the reichstag by the
chancellor, who expressed "the rever-
entail wish that greater reserve be
displayed in future in making such
utterances."
Herr Ledebour said there was no OBJ
| lection to the emperor speaking as
much as he chose on all possible sub
| jects which his majesty thought he
understood.
None of our opponents he contin-
ued, ''plows so thoroughly that the soil
wherein social Democratic seed is to be
sown as Emperor William H.
It was, however, unfair, the speaker
said, that those undertaking to reply
to the emperor should be prosecuted
on thes charge of insulting his majes-
ty. He demanded that the emperor
should not interfere in the affairs of
state contrary to the provisions of the
constitution.
Herr Ledebour spoke mockingly Of
the Hohenzollern family cult deriving
it's powers from the most high. He
concluded:
"Elector Brandenburg obtained the
Prussian crown from the Roman en-
peror through begging and whining
and by all means of intrigue at the
court of Vienna"
EMPEROR is DEFENDED
RepIying, Chancellor Won BethTnann-
Hollweg defended the emperor and as
serted that the Socialist Interpolation
was inspired by republican sentiments
rather than by anxiety for the integrity
of TIE state.
The c .ancellor denied that the Koe-
nigsberg speech constituted breach
OF any promise that his majesty had
made.
Describing the growth of the state,
the chancellor said the kings of Prus-
sia in century long development had
grown into intimate connection with
the people.
This development" he continued,
''was not on the theory that the peo-
pie gave themselves to the monarchy.
but throughout the unequaled labor of
the great rulers, the house of Ho-
henzollern was sustained by a tena-
tcious and efficient population.
"Thus arose the Prussian state.
which does not know the idea Of a
sovereignty of the people. The kings
in their relations to the people are
kings in their own right 1t must not
be wondered at that in our day when
democratic tendency appears to treat
the king as the official of the people
the king OF Prussia strongly empha-
sizes his consciousness that he is not
subject to popular sovereignty.
"The personal irresponsibility of the
king and the independence of the SOW
ereignty of his monarchical rights are
fundamental principles of our pol tical
life which remain alive in the constitu-
fionaJ deyalopO1aOt -