The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1912-01-18
Embarrassment Of Democracy,

eminent. Germany has just had an
election for The popular branch Of its
Parliament which has disturbed trade
has rendered its domestic and foreign
policy for the immediae e future un-
certain. and has caused ruptures in
family relations all over the empire. A
few months hence France will go
through similar experience, as also
will one or two other European coun-
tries. A crisis may come at any mo-
ment which will overthrow the Asquith
ministry and cause a dissolution OF Parlia
ment and new election in the British
islands. The election which was pro
posed Tor China in which the people Of
that country should be directed TO
choose whether they would cling to a
monarchical form Of government or Sc
lect a republican regime, will probably
take place, for the suggestion is still
before the representatives Of the dy-
nasty and those Of the provisional re
publican government. A few months
hence the 95,O00,OO0 people of the
United States will find themselves
divided into two political camps and,
for several months alterward many Of
the country's customary activities will
be thrown into confusion. Here, too,
as in all the other countries referred to
change in the nations domestic
policy, and to some extent, in its for
eign relations will depend upon the
result Of the plebiscite. But, Of course
these embarrassment are slight COM
pared with the evils Of despotism.
In the case Of Germany the expect
ed and the unexpected are mixed in
the voting. While the Socialists have
made large gains, as were looked for,
they were at the expense Of the Radi-
Gals and Of the National Liberals rather
tlan OF the conservatives and CT the
Catholic Center. The two parties last
named, which have their clientle chief
ly in the rural regions and in the lower
end OF the empire, appear to have en-
couutered comparatively slight losses
while some OF the more progressive
groups will find their weight in the
scale in the coming Reichstag serious
ly diminished. The principal point ol
interest in and out Of Germany was as
10 the showing which the Social Demo
Gratis were to make. These seems to
have swept the big cities Of the north
ern end OF the empire. The lone dis
trict OF Berlin which, in the past held
out against them, and in which the
kaiser and most Of the members OF ths
ministry reside and vote appears tc
have capitulated this time 10 the Social
lists, which may mean that the kaiser
will carry out his threat 20 move out o.
town if his ward and precinct should &C
against him. His bloc, however, ir
the Reischstag may still be powerful
enough 10 control legislation, for it
principal ingredients, the Center anC
the Conservatives, have probably re
tanned enough seats to give him mai
ority with such scraps Of help as he car
pick up from among the other reaction
ary sects. The Centrist section, tht
solid South, may be little less soliC
for the coming five years than it ha
been in recent times, but Parliamen
will hardly go over altogether to tn
kaiser's enemies.
Like some OF the other representa-
tive governments Of Europe, German
retains that remnant ofautocracy whic
fore IS a second election in the district
in which no candidate has clear ma
ority Of all the votes cast. This re
quiremen was fatal TO the Socialists i
the election Of 1907 for it enabled tn
kaiser to make a combination Of all th
r.actionary sects against them. This
how it ithappened that while they had
llrger vote at the polls than in an
preceding election they obtained fewt
seats in Puliment in that year tha
they had in the preceding term. Thei
is a probability, however that they vi
now recover their lest ground. tt
fifty-twJ seats which they had in Il