The Washington herald., 1911-06-18
rs.l a.. 70 Ths Mnshinrtop Herald.

Special Gable to The Washington Herald.
Berlin June 17.-Herr Won Bethmann-
Holweg, the chancellor of the empire,
who has retired to his country estate.
Hohenfney. to rest on his laurels, rep
resented by his forcing the Reichstag to
pass the new constitution for Alsaee
Lorraine, is already beginning to realize
that his victory is not one which is apt
to produce pleasant permanent results,
but is rather to be compared to sowing
Of dragons teeth.
The constitution, indeed, satisfies no
body either in Germany or in the an
nexed provinces. Its passage was forced
against the will and wishes Of the Con-
servative party, and was only made
possible by the support Of the Socialists.
It has severely shaken the position OF
the Conservative party, fact which is
bound to exert a very strong influence
upon practical German politics in the
future.
Until a few weeks ago the Conserva-
tives were fully convinced that they
were absolutely Indispensable in Prus-
sia, as well as in the empire; now
they have suddenly realized that things
may be carried on without their sup
port.
The halo which has always surrounded
the party in the eyes of great many
patriotic voters is rapidly disappearing,
and this must necessarily effect the COM
ing elections.
The Liberal and Radical parties had no
choice but to vote for the new constitu-
ton for AIsace, principally because it rec
ognized universal suffrage IN the annexed
provinces. and this was of the greatest
importance.
That the imperial government has grant
ed the people of Alsace Lorraine universal
suffrage means that it must make the
same concession elsewhere.
Bethmann-Hollweg, who fought against
universal suffrage in Prussia with all his
strength. has now himself granted 1t to
the voters of Alsace and, no matter how
strongly the Conservative party may en-
deavor to maintain that Prussia is to be
measured in a different way, no matter If
the Prussian government itself throws its
whole power and influence into the scales.
universal suffrage is bound to come also
in Prussia, Saxony. and other North Ger
man States.
The chancellor himself has broken the
backbone of the opposition to universal
suffrage in the various states Of the en-
pire.
No Time for Celebration.
Aside from this. the granting of the
constitution to the annexed provinces
contains very little to create liberal en-
thusiasm. The act itself shows too plain
" that it Is the effect of a compromise.
The election districts have been gerry
wandered to suit the wishes of the Cleri-
Gals: the first chamber will be absolutely
in the power of Prussia, and, finally, the
fact that the governor Of the provinces
may be deposed at any time completely
does away with Alsace Lorraines
chances OF carving out it's own destiny.
As a matter of fact, the constitution
can by no means be considered final
act; 1t is simply a nodus vivendi, which
mays draw the people of the provinces
closer to the empire, but which, at the
same time defers absolutely autonomy
into a very distant future.
Germany is therefore apt to find out
before very long that a sham federal
state in its midst is even more difficult
to deal with than conquered, but un-
conciliated people.
The controversy which has RACED
around the constitution teaches a plain
lesson in regard to the expensive power
of Germany. The faculty of conciliating
and assimilating conquered people has
evidently no place in the political char
acter Of the German nation, and this fact
in itself is enough to prevent the coun-
try from ever becoming great colonial
power.