Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-11-29
GERMAN KAISER SCORED
FOR HIS "D|V|NE RIGHT"
Emperor's Utterance on Au-
gust rs, Raises Storm in
the ReiChStag

BERLIN, Nov. 2s.-The batterest and
most protracted debate of recent years
opened I'm the reichstag today when the
chamber took up for consideration EN-
peror Williams now famous speech at
Koensburg, August rs, in which the kais-
er made use of expressions indicating his
mistaken belief that he holds his throne
by divine right.
The utterance, following a more or less
we'll understood promise of the kaiser to
abstain from airing his views on the sub
ject, raised a storm which found vent to-
day.
Chancellor Won Bethmann-Hollweg,
who defended the kaiser, and Herr Led
ebour, one of the Socialist leaders, were
among the principal speakers. Herr Led
ebour sarcastically referred TO the kaiser
as the best Of all ploughmen for the seed
of Socialism, and declared contemptuous-
ly that instead of holding his throne
from God, the first Hohenzollern king of
Prussia obtained his place by whining,
intriguing and begging at the court Of
Vienna.
Chancellor Won Bethmann-Hollweg de-
MED that the emperor had broken his i'm
piled promise not to disturb the peace OF
the empire by Insisting on the doctrine of
divine right. The debate opened two
hours earlier than the usual time, and the
galleries were packed.
Following the emperor's famous inter-
view two years ago, his majesty approx
ed statement in the reichstag by the
chancellor, who expressed the 'rever-
entail wish that greater reserve be dis
played in future in making such utter
ances."
RAPS THE EMPEROR.
Herr lie deBour said there was no OBJ
lection to the emperor's speaking as
much as he chose on all possible SUBJ
jects which his majesty thought he I'M
derstood. -
None of our opponents" he contin-
ued, 'plows so thoroughly the soil where
in social democratic seed is to be sown'
as Emperor William II.
1t was, however, unfair, the speaker
said, that those undertaking to reply to
the emperor should be prosecuted on
the charge of insulting his majesty. He
demanded that the emperor should not
interfere in the affairs of the state con-
trary to the provisions of the constitu-
ton.
Herr lie deBour spoke mockingly of
the Hohenzollern family cult deriving
its powers from the Most High. He
concluded:
'Elector of Brandenburg obtained the
Prussian crown from the Roman emperor
through begging and whining ard by ell
means of intrigue at the court of Vi
emma"
DEFENDS THE KAISER.
Replying, Chancellor Won Bethmann-
KolIweg defended the emperor and as
serted that the Socialist Interpolation
was inspired by republican sentiment
rather than by anxiety for the integrity
of the state.
Herr lie deBour's remarks made 1t
clear" he said, that he and his party
are not moved to interpellate by their
care for the commonwealth-bu by a
passionate hostility to the constitution
He confesses that he and his party ia
vor a republic"
lis that something new?" LIE deBour
interrupted.
No" responded the chancellor, this
is nothing new. You have always sup
ported that principle but you have not
proclaimed your aim so publicly as to-
day." g.,
The chancellor denied that the Koen-
igsburg speech constituted a breach of
any promise that his majesty had made
in 1908, saying that when he used the
expression, by the grace of God" the
emperor was fully conscious of his rights
and duties.
IAN MULE OI lEN1OAN
In the course Of his speech LIE deBeur
declared that 1.-The king emperor cannot
attempt to rule against the opinion Of
the people. II he1 does, his position be
comes untenable. Either he must put
aside his personal opinion or the mon
archical system will be eliminated"
The speaker affirmed that Germany
must be ruled by a democratic parlia-
mentary system.
Describing the growth of the state.
Chancellor Won Bethmann-Hollweg
said that the kings of Prussia in "a GEN.
fury long development had grown into an
intimate connection with the people.
This development" he continued,
was not on the theory that the people
gave themselves to the monarchy, but
throughout the unequalled labor of the
great rulers, the house of Hohenzollern
was assisted by a tenacious and eff
cient population.
Thus arose the Prussian state, which
does not know the idea of a sovereignty
of the people The kings in their re-
lations to the people are kings in their
own right.
''It must not be wondered at that in
our day. when democratic tendency APP
pears to treat the king as the official
Of the people, the king of Prussia strong
ly emphasizes his consciousness that he
Is not subject to popular sovereignty
THE personal responsibility of the
king and the independence of the SOW
ereignty of his monarchical rights are
fundamental principles of our political
life which remain alive in the consti-
tutional DEVELOPMENT"