Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1914-08-15

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learned his power.
We turn from them, with something
that resembles loathing, to William OF
Hohenzollern, with something that re-
sembles admiration. Let US try to be
just. Although the kaiser is firm be-
lever in the right divine of kings
"Meinself und Gott,"
he is modern, not an archaic He was
equal to the scepter when it came tohim.
His dismissal of Bismark showed him
not merely man of his own head but a
man ahead of his time, who had already
learned something of the new forces at
work in Germany. He had. 10 mind to
sit down at Potsdam and amuse HIM
SELF whilst the Iron Chancellor ruled in
his name. So, albeit with the proposal
Of honors and spoils galore, he sent the
man who claimed to have made the en-
pire packing, and took the rens in his
own hands.
He has held them faulty from that
day to this. Conceiving the import OF
public opinion, he has PLAYED to it.
Comprehendingt the needs ofthe people,
he has led in the development OF
their industries. All the while the
war lord, in fact, he has stood-has at
least seemed-the peacemaker, much at
variance with the cha racter and aspects
he is revealing ra ther unexpectedly
to those who have not loo ked beneath
the surface; for it would appea that,
during the decades when he was de-
voting his talents and energies 10 the
economics of the time, meeting and
beating the commercial rivals of his
country in most of the rural markets
this the shoe that pinches Engand!-he
has not neglected the arts OF war, but
has perfected his armies and armaments
so that, for the moment at least they are
far in the lead of the rest of Europe.
Everywhere the area of popular gov
ernment widens whilst the lines ofking.
ly sovereignty shrink. Whether govern
ment grows better may be yet ques-
ton. The hope of America is the better
education and the advisement of the
people. The hope of Europe is the over
throw of feudality and right divine kings.
The war that is on will be the be-
ginning of the end of these. Its conse-
quences will see the last of both. Ger
many will hardly accept the rule of the
crown prince when his time arrives, and
when the aged emperor of Austria goes
the rule of the STRIPPING whom suicide
and murder have brought to the steps
of the throne, in the event that he as
cends it at all, is likely to be brief
Usually war makes heroes With pres
ent conditions what they are, its engin-
cries so destructive, it may the rather
unmake them. Surely William of Hohen
zollern has everything to lose and moth
ing to gain, and the same may be said
OF the Hapsburgs, whilst the people of
England, France for nearly so years
republic, will suffer Affections that here
after must nightly appeal against mon
archy.
For a century the world has been
moving toward republicanism. 1t will
move faster now than ever. The kaiser
must win many battles to hold his own.
If he loses many he is lost. In the dual
empire the racial variance always max
es for revolution. AS We have seen, the
Balkans must be reckoned with. Hun
~
still land of indivualized institutions
and self governing people, never quite
sure to its Austrian fastenings.
In short the time has arrived for
kings to take stock, as it were, and for
kingcraft to come to a showdown. When
the battle clouds lift and the earth has
received the slain we shall behold
another Europe and it may be more
glorious Europe. Let US liye and hope.
But we shall have to wait and see.