New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-06-29
The Peace Appeal of the German
Socialists.


taken outside Germany as indicating a
very serious division Of opinion among
Germans as to the objects and outcome OF
the war. That belief will be strengthened
by the fact that the government at once
suspended the publication Of "Vorwaerts,"
the official Socialist organ, in which the
appeal was issued.
The assertion on behalf Of the Socialist
voters-the largest group in the German
electorate-that the people are tired OF
war and are looking forward to a settle
ment which will leave boundaries in Eu-
rope intact and give German workingmen
a chance TO renew friendly relations with
the workingmen Of other countries is, Of
course, of considerable significance. 1t
proves that q large section Of the German
population is not fighting for the purpose
of enlarging Germany's place in the
sun" or of imposing Kultur on the unwill-
ing inhabitants Of new Alsace-Lorraines.
That is an encouraging assurance in view
of the notice recently given by the King
of Bavaria that South Germany needs
better approach TO the ocean-obviously
through Belgium-and the still more re-
cent assertions from Berlin that Prussia
expects TO annex not only Western Po-
land but a large portion of Russia's Baltic
provinces.
The Socialist, or Social Democratic,
leaders in Germany naturally look with
apprehension on extensions Of territory
which would strengthen the power of the
Prussian autocracy or bring new elements
into the imperial body polite as hard to
assimilate as the Belgians would be. War
has not altered the ideals Of the Social
Democrats. Their great task is to infuse
democracy into the German mass, to trans
fer power from the small privileged class
which now monopoizes it to the hands Of
the people. That task would be made much
more difficult than it is II the empire were
10 assume political control Of new areas
as unyielding TO German methods as
Schleswig- Holstein, Posen and Alsace-
Lorraine have always been. Germany can
not be democratized until the people be-
come united in spirit, and even at present
the population TO which a democratic
socialistic movement naturally appeals is
divided into two hostile groups-the Social
Democratic and that adhering TO the Cath
ollie Centrum.
The Social Democratic party has large
representation in the Reichstag. But 1t
has little real political power. The Reichs-
tag Is debating body, with only slight
control over the imperial government. 1t
has never been able 10 enforce its will
against the Emperor and the army. More
over, in Prussia and in most of the other
states Of the empire its power is extremely
limited. 1t is useful for purposes of agi-
tation, but 1t has little hand in governing
or in restraining the small minority which
does govern.
The Social Democratic appeal for peace
must therefore be regarded more as a
farsighted party declaration than as a
practical, enforceable demand that Ger
many shall seek peace at once on the basis
Of a return TO the territorial status exist
ing at the outbreak of the war. The Social
Democratic party wants 10 put itself on
record at time when its propositions can
be mace without injuring German pride
ut a time Of partial success, when those
propositions seem even to SAVIOR Of generos-
ity 10 the various nations whose territory
Germany now occupies.
II would be oversanguine TO expect the
German Government to be influenced very
greatly by the appeal which "Vorwaerts"
was suppressed for publishing. In war the
imperial authority is aI-pervading. The
German people could not at present impose
their will on the central government except
by revolution, and too many vital German
interests are at stake in the war 10 per-
nit the German masses to apply so suicidaSs
a remedy.
II is much easier TO 60 into war than
to get out Of it, Neither group Of bellig-
erents can afford to quit now. The sacri-
fees already made would hardly justify
either in accepting barren peace. There
fore, the German Social Democrats must
still 20 along with the government, just
as the French, Italian and British Social /
lists do.
In the end, however, when the limit of
exhaustion draws near, the natural de-
sire for peace Of those who hope to see
international socialism revived may help