The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-09-19
Chap. Y---PRESENT TIME-.-Part 3
,ocia,i.ts Gain !, German,


The German empire. under William
H.. came rapidly TO the fore, both from
commercial and a military standpoint.
An enlightened and aggressive mon
arch. self-sufliciont and vcnturesome.
he has always been greatly admired
and warmly supported by a vast ma
jority OF his subjects.
One OF the first things which arose to
trouble his reign was the growth and
sressiNcncss Of the Socialist party.
This "as one of the causes OF Bis
marck's resignation. The old chancel-
Tor had wagcd war since his old days
in the house OF deputies In IstS against
extension OF suffrage. When he came
into orice he prosecuted it with great
viEor
The Socialists and trades unions and
the Social Democrats made steady gains
In numbers and activity In spite OF gov
eminent opposition. Cndoterred by
prison sentences. police spies. and in
limitation on the part OF the govern
ncnt. they thrived and grew powerful
Men like Bebel and Leibeknecht boldly
denounced the chancellor and his re-
prcsSivc measures In tho rcichstag
Laws OF the most stringent nature
were passed and enforced. only 10 make
converts 10 the cause.
When William H. came into power
his disposition was TO modify these
The emperor had his way. and tho pilot
was dropped. William must since to
himself have ackno wlcdged his error
but he never did so publicly. II was
not long before the Socialists were out
Of all hounds politically. The gains
they made threatened the government
more than once, and have enabled them
to block some OF the cmpcror's pct
schemes.
Unequal Representation In RcichstaK.
In :, measure tho anti Sccialist laws
were restored and attacks upon tho
emperor or the government were stern
" punished as acts OF treason. AS In
France and other countries the Social
lists arc not wholly united on common
platform. and within their ranks is
found a wide rage of opinion, from ac-
tive ;adicalism 10 a form OF liberalism
which is easily brought 10 support gov
eminent measures. II only needs re-
form in the representative system to
put them in complete control OF the
rcichstag.
The government has steadily refused
to "cdiStrict the empire, hence the pop
ulatiors comprising the various consti-
tucncies arc grossly unequal. For in
stancc.the city OF Berlin, with over g.
100000 people. is represented I'm tho
rcichstag by only six members, an av-
erage Of $4,000 people 10 each repre-
Is ~
with only 1881, has one member. Other
large cities arc similarly treated In
East Prussia which is strongly conscr-
vativc, there is ono member to lal 900
population. The tendency OF cities to
send Socialist representatives to the
reichstas prevents tho basis OF repre-
Scntation being rcadjustcd.
The increase In population demanded
an outlet. Room had to be provided for
tho constantly increasing surplus
Large numbers went to South America
and elsewhere. but this was not what
the empire wanted. II wanted land of
It's own. SO colonization zegan. Grad
ually a foothold was secured in Africa
and in tho islen between Australia
and Java. Commercial treaty towns
were acquired In China and elsewhere
Whenever there was disturbance
a broad German cruiser appeared and
I'm the settlement Of the dispute a Ger
man diplomat demanded that his coun-
try have it's share in whatever division
was made.
So far. these colonies can scarcely be
said TO pay for their maintenance, but
they fly tho German rag and they fur
nish bases for future commercial or
naval enterprises.
Empires Commerce Grows.
Army organization, which may be
said TO date back from the father OF
| Frederick the Great, has in Germany
now reached the highest efficiency.
The German army presents to day the
greatest fighting machine tho world
has ever seen. The system OF enlist
ment keeps the ranks filled with we'll
trained men. and the body of reserves.
which may be called ont SUCCESSFULLY
as emergencies require them. is enor.
nous in numbers. Aud the navy has
almost kept pace with the land force
Had il not been for the activity OF the
parliamentary opposition. tho navy to.
day might have cqnaled in all particu-
lars that of Great Britain. The cost
has added, with the army upk cep. an
appalling tax, but tho ruling classes
are heart and soul for II.
No change which has taken place in
this remarkable country Is more notice