Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1914-08-27
COMMAND OF KAISER
IS SUPREME LAW
When Emperor Declares War
German Soldiers Have
Only To Obey.

The $4,000 sturdy German soldiery
who a few days g were men, but
now among the dead before Liege had
no voice as to whether they should live
or die.
The hundreds of thousands of soldiers
who have been called to the colors
must fight for God and country"
whether they believe the fight just or
not.
Their nay be swept from
the sea. their homes RACED and their
fields sowed with bullets and blood,
but they will have no redress.
They had no choice. They were
called by the emperor and had nothing
to do but obey, for Germany, in time
of war. is a one-man power.
The 100000 inhabitants of h en-
pire have no more option as to wheth-
er their soldiers shall risk life, home
and treasure and saddle them with an
|enormou national debt than the serfs
of. Russia.
Kaiser An Absolute Ruler.
William II. emperor Of Germany and
king Of Prussia, is absolute ruler of
the destiny Of his people. At his COM
mand war is declared. At his com
mand war ceases, Neither the rulers
of the various states which go to form
the German c~onfederacy or the people
can interfere with the actions Of the
emperor. His imperial command is
final.
William II is not responsible for this
condition. He simply is exercising the
prerogative which was vested in the
house Of Hohenzollern when the con-
federacy was formed.
The German empire is a union Of rs
sovereign states, composed Of four
kingdoms, six grand duchies. five
duchies, seven principalities and three
free towns. Alsace-Lorraine, ceded by
49, N-~--I s~ OF f~-r~~ - E+l an
stitutent of the confederation, but Is
administered by a central authority.
The supreme direction of the military
and political affairs of the empire has,
by the vote of the reichstag or diet Of
the North German confederation been
vested in the king of Prussia, who, ac-
cordingly. bears the title of German
emperor. The imperial dignity is he
reditary in the line Of Hohenzollern,
and follows the law of the first born.
The emperor is assisted in his Of
flee by a federal council or bundesrath,
| which represents the governments Of
the individual states of Germany. The
members of this council, SO in number,
are appointed for each session by the
governments of the individual states
The legislative functions of the en-
pire are vested in the emperor, the
bundesrath. and the reichstag or diet.
Vote is by ballot, n one member is
GiSClSd ny approximately SSSiy 1Vu,-
900 inhabitants. The power is
in the emperor's hands. He represents
the empire internationally, and can de-
clare war if defensive, and make peace
as well as enter into treaties with
other nations; he also appoints and
receives ambassadors. For declaring
offensive wal the consent of the fed
eral council must be obtained.
Emperor William obviated this re-
striction in the present great struggle
by declaring that the val was Gefe1l-
sive, inasmuch as Germany and france
had modified their troops. For that
reason he was able to throw the forces
of Germany into the field without ask
ing the consent Of the federal council.
Even had he had to ask this consent,
the emperor's decision would have been
supreme. for the kingdom Of Prussia.
whose hereditary ruler he is, Is entire
ly under his control and controls the
federal council.
William u Controls Federal Council.
There are only So members in the fed
eral council. This council is presided
over by the chancellor Of the empire.
The emperor appoints this chancellor.
Imperial measures, after passing the
federal council n the reichstag, must
obtain the sanction OF the emperor in
order to become law. and must be
| countefsigned, when promulgated, by
the chancellor OF the emperor.
This federal council, acting under the
| direction Of the chancellor Of the en-
pire, is also a supreme administrative
and consultative board and as such ex-
ercise supervision over the army and
fortresses. the navy tariffs, excuses and
taxes. trade and commerce, railways
posts, t~elegraphs, civil and criminal
law, financial accounts, foreign at
fairs.
The hereditary rulers OF the various
sovereign statsO in the c~onfederacy APP