Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-11-01
END CT GERMAN EMPIRE SEEN
Predicted Country Will Become First
of Worlds Great Nations to Adopt
Socialism.

crimson flag of Socialism for is own?
Or viii il resolve itself into the num-
erous tiny little states, which We're
welded together by the War of 1870 ana
| made into an empire in 1871 by Der
Crosse Wilhelm, grandfather of the
present Kaiser and the man of blood
and iron" Prince Bismarck, the first
Chancellor of United Germany?
And what of the House of Hohen-
zo.lern?
VIII it become a noble family of the
first rank. but not of royal or imperi-
al power?
Or will the members of this great
est OF the Teutonie reigning families
become willy nilly, simple citizens of d
vast Sccialistie community?
All of which just now seems the
widest improbability, and yet any of
these things may come true within the
| next twelve-month. AS matter OF
fact, that events of the direst nature
are impending for the Hohenzollern
dynasty is strongly forecasted ~ the
ominously rising tide of Socialism
whose red flood threatens TO sweep
the kaiscr's Government at the next
election.
That revolution, either peaceful or
of warlike nature, with the proba-
bilities all in favor of the latter bar
| 4 revolution, none the less, say those
who are in closest touch with the Ger
man political situation, is almost in
evitable, once the ballots have been
counted at the election, which takes
place few months hence
1t seems certain that unless the head
of the House of Hohenzollern grants
far-reaching concessions to his sub
| iects. which will practically amount to
an abdioation of the throne, between
this time and then, some such event
will take place. And it is hardly like
ly that the Kaiser will relinquish priv
ilegcs which he believes are his by di~
vine right. without struggle of the
bltterest. Yet it is only necessary to
consider the facts to realize that the
German Empire is approaching the
most serious crisis of its history.
In the election of the present year
| the Socialist vote in Germany num-
bered more than 4 $50, 600. considerably
more than a third of the entire cleo
| torate. and vast increase over the
previous Socialist poll. In the Reich
| stag the Socialist vote is 10 out of
| 200, While affiliated with it are the
| Radicals, numbering nearly 100 more.
| Each year has seen a tremendous
| numerical increase of the forces under
! the red flag, whose primal objects are
| avowedly anti-monarchfal and the
| fact that the party has grown so rap
| idly is q signal evidence of the unrest
! of the German people. Since 1909 when
/ a TAX of 1925 000, 900 was placed on the
people for the purpose of augmentinG
| the efficiency of the army and navy,
| this unrest has crystallized and grown
| to its present enormous proportions,
until today it threatens to throne it
sell.
| Yet for all that. it seems hardly suf
! ficient to warrant a prediction for the
| dissolution OF the empire in 1913. Even
| the most sanguine Socialist could not
| hope for so speedy a contamination of
| his desires.
What then is the reason for the
| prophecy?
| Improbable as it seems. this it is
| that is Just now on the lips of all who
are interested in the fate of the great
! federation of Teutonic states, founded
| by the Iren Chancellor and his King.
William l. of Prussia, later to be the
| first ruler over the modern Ger
manic Empire.
Will the imperial eagles fall stricken
| in the dust next year--in 1919?
This is the question that passes from
| mouth to mouth in the bier gartens
and ra.hskellers of Berlin and in ever
community where the followers of the
red flag are strong in the German Em-
pire--and they are strong everywhere.
fho f,ln
finger on the map and say: Here are
all loyal subjects" save in a few sec
tions of Catholic South and West Ger
many.
And even there the propaganda of
Socialism gains Roadway with an
| amazing rapidity.
Even among the court folks and
those highest in social affairs the pos
sibility of the Kaiser's overthrow IS
being discussed. They talk in whis-
pers and with many cynical shrugs or
the shoulders, do the creme de la
creme of the Kaiser's court, and they
dub the whole thing as a canard,
mere idle superstition.
Yet back of all their careless SCOT
| fing lies certain apprehension haru
| to define Invariably when they mn
| ish the discussion they add query
something like this:
~ wonder whether she Will be righi
| a third time?"
The feminine parsonage they reler 70
| is a fortune teller or seeress. long since
| dead, and the story they tell is ABOUT
| a phophecy she once made, now more
| that GO years ago. And the reason OF
| it's significance. even to the practieai
| German mind, is that it was MADE 10
| Der Crosse Wilhelm, grandfather Oh
| the present Kaiser, at the time that
| Two others were made, both OF which
| have since proved true to the letter.
One of these prophecies was the
| date of the founding of the empire IN
1871, thing not dreamed of at the
| time: the other the date of the hfst
williams death in 1888.
AS the story goes, in 1S49, immedl-
| ately after the black DAYS of the rev
! olution in Germany. William L., then
| Crown Prince of Prussia, was persuau-
| ed to consult fortune teller IN, BAD
| on who had once made some extraor-