The Washington herald., 1914-08-09
THE RULING FEW
AN OBSTRUCTION TO
WORLD PEACE
Dc Geors. n. shIhIey.

ny 1eorBe II. smiley.
Especially do I wish to direct attention
to the fact that the insurmountable OBJ
stacle that has been and is standing In
the way OF the greatly desired world
peace Is the oligarchy of Germany, COM
bined with the Austro- Hungarian oil
garchy. They are standing square across
unduestioned facts:
The combined oliEarchies. the remnant
OF the ruling few that stood forth In the
Holy Alliance for the overthrow OF rep
resentative government throughout the
world. are beating back the peoples de-
mand for self-government
As far back as 1876 Bismarck Joined
hands with the conservatives In Ger
many, and since then the German gov
eminent has bitterly fought the oncom-
ing tide OF the peoples power.
1t Is now two generations since the
apportionment OF the vote for the lower
house of the German Parliament was
made. and vast changes have come
about in the distribution Of population,
still no reapportionment has been made.
Berlin and the other cities are with COM
paratively little representation in the
lower house. with none in the upper
house. and one man alone appoints the
chancellor, yet the injustice and wrong
lear Og year AhC
has been almost overwhelmed. but by
specious pleas about the danger to the
German people from the adjoining folk
they have stayed In ONCE and controlled
the government
In doing so, they have steadily in
creased the army and navy. This has
compelled the adjoining slater TO do
likewise or be overpowered by the DULLES
"a set Of hard-pressed leaders, brilliant
N-- II
sense. Lives Of falsehoods have been
their lot. ever slandering and villifying
the peoples growing power.
At the last general election in Germany
this band OF selfish special interests, self
created through their control Of the gov
eminent, were actually defeated In the
lower house. Yet by means OF the
peculiar German system whereby the
Kaiser Is really the head of the gov
eminent until q revolutionary change
is effected, the oligarchy has retained
control Of the army and navy while
yielding to the passage of laws whereby
the few are paying q special assessment
of q billion marks for the immediate
increase in fortihcations, and for GER
tain increases in the army and navy
they are to submit to a tax on the in
crease Of land values.
At precisely the same time that the
things, in Austria-Hungary q similar in
crease in war weapons was taking place.
The people vigorously objected. and in
Hungary the law was forced through In
an unconstitutional manner. The oppo-
sition committed such e protest that the
meeting Of the Parliament was discon-
tInued. Three days later violet scenes
in the lower house were again enacted.
and the government leaders life was at
not venture out into the streets When !
he did. on June IS, 1913. he was sur
rounded by q mob and narrowly escaped
violence. The police interviewed. On the
reopening Of Parliament on September II |
the riotous scenes in the lower house
were repeated" . The following day the |
government majority again excluded the |
opposition. These events show the !
straits to which the Austro- Hungarian |
oligarchy were put in getting the increase |
in the army and navy and in heading OF |
governmental reform. |
These increases in war armament in |
Germany and Austria Hungary In Isl2-l3I
have compelled similar action In the ad- |
Joining states of France. Great Britain. |
and Russia while here in the United /
states Of America We have voted to lay
down three more great battleshIps.
In 1872 while the German and Austro-
hungarian war lords were putting |
the recent increase in arma- |
ment, the British government suggested
a naval holiday" a cessation for the /
year from laying down more Dread
noughts. OF course the ruling few could |
not stop and continue in power.
summary and Cancellation.
From the foregoing facts it appears
that the German and Austro-Hungarian |
are an obstruction 70 world |
peace. It's self-interest and seIf-preser-
walton compel It to direct their country
mems attention outward.
On the other hand, IN France, England
and the other countries where the people
are In power-where liberal governments
axist-the self-interest is for the stoppage
of dreadnought building. and for agree
nents to arbitrate.
But not until the German oligarchy, at
least. shall be replaced with a liberal
government will the way be opened for
world peace.
Peace League Of the World.
In the meantime, to aid the peace
by helping to spread the fore
going ideas, there has been started the
Peace League OF the World. All who be-
ieve In its principles are invited to Join.
No dues. Address, The Bliss Building,
D. c. DR.. George H
Wright, international president; Kepler
aoyt, international secretary.