The Washington herald., 1913-12-20

Irresponsible only 10 the Emperor and
not to the Parliament, as in other
European nations; but the temper OF
the people. as expressed, was plain
enough, and this was the more signif-
cant because in Germany the army OF
the country has been its god, and the
people have been willing to submit to
almost any sacrifice in order to sus-
tain the arrny's power and dignity. II
has been considered there that the
army was not merely a protection to
the country against the aggression of
its neighbors, but was the veritable
source of the national business pros
perity; and the uniform of an army
officer was held to invest its wearer
with practically unlimited authority and
to confer upon him the most extraor-
dinary privileges.
The debate in the Reichstag showed
that this spirit has undergone a strik-
ing change. The Socialist party in
Germany has always been an anti
military party; but in the discussion
that followed the Zabern outrage it
fairly seemed as if the people had gone
over in body to the Socialist point of
view One speaker after another re-
lated incidents to show how grievous
the burden OF taxation on account of
the army had become. The number of
people unemployed and the marked
subsistence of the activity of general
business was compared with the mil
lions OF men kept under arms and idle
in Germany at the national expense;
and there was no doubt at all that the
vote of condemnation of the chancellor
reflected an intense popular feeling
that the army was costing Germany
too much.
This was followed in short. or
der by the fall of the ministry in
France after an adverse vote in the
Chamber OF Deputies upon the bill att
llOI lLllIS lllC NSuS Ol HSW IlSlCI
loan of S26o,ooo,ooo. The vote was not
upon the loan, exactly, but upon one of
its conditions. The opponents OF the
measure were those whose feelings OF
hostility to it were known to consist,
at bottom. OF their objection to the
large additional expenditure of money
for an increase in the French army,
which was the main object of the loan.
This increase was provoked by the even
larger increase, previously authorized.
in the German army, which was in its
turn declared to be necessary by the
German Emperor after seeing the re-
suits of the Balkan war. Now the
spirit of the French people seems to
be, after time has been taken for medi-
tation, that it is very doubtful whether
ii is advisable for France to cover"
the stake which the German Emperor |
has laid upon the table. The cry is in
France: 1--WE are already taxed to
death; we are willing to maintain our
army as it is, but further taxation will |
crush Us, and we do not see the need |
of further taxation for the army"
Therefore. although it has not yet been
formally decided to abandon the new |
loan altogether, the new ministry that |
has taken Office in France has an
nounced that it will not 60 on with the |
loan at the present time; and it is
practically admitted that the amount of |
loan when it is issued will be consid-
erably decreased from the volume orig
inally contemplated.
In England the Liberal party and
business men who have been supporting
the government are all up in arms
against stupendouS military and naval
plans; and people in England, irrespect-
i've of party, are lifting their voices
against the ambitious schemes of mill
tary and naval crankS and the endless
amount of money that these schemes
al - III SNAA ONii NOhilllN lllS pl up
osition Of the present national admin
istration for an armament holiday has
met with instantaneous and favorable
response not only in Congress, but in
the country. A development of the
sort is. indeed, worldwide.
If this feeling should assume the
form in due time of a positive restric-
ton of the amount Of money voted by
legislatures for these purposes
business would welcome it as the most
favorable event that could happen.
Imagine what would be the effect upon
trade and commerce if t could be con-
Sidered probable that for several years
to come even fair portion of the
money now spent for armies and navies
were to be devoted to the development
Of legitimate business enterprisesl
Another way of looking at the mat
.er is that there are some evidences in
various parts of the world of a return
If legislative common sense.