Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-28
FAITH AL MOST SUBLIME
From Royalty Down Through
Childlike Masses, All Ex-
pect Victory.

absolutely unchanged. and the feelings
arc remarkably uniform from tn" cx-
elusive circle', through the middle
classes and down through the childlil<e
masses
have talked with several leaders
OF the Social Democratic party. With
out q single exception. they all showed
the same calm. deliberate and sufficient
strength as officers Privy Councillors
and fjnancicrs.
With considerable pride they point
TO the fact that the percentage OF un-
employed among organized workers.
which during the second month of the
war was 22i has now decreased to $
They told me how many Industrial es-
Establishments during the war had
changed their entire production. in or
der !" accord with their present needs
working now partly to make up for
stopped imports OF luxurics. partly to
support army ana navy.
ALI. ARE AGREED on
ENORMOUS MORAL GAIN
One thing they all maintained-that
the war would mean AN enormous
moral gain TO Germany. which would
greatly benefit social evolution. Many
a narrow prejudice has already been
- N''''' '''' VI cfN'4l ny lne war.
no living being Knows writes a
chief mouthpiccc OF Socialist opinion
If We are now At the middle Of the
war. If we are approaching its end. or
II we have years Of war ahead OF us.
one thing only wc know. that We shall
and must endure, that no superiority of
numbers or arms. no attempts at starry
ing us into surrender, shall crush MS
w" have this feeling not only because
We have fun confidence in the strength
Of our army it's organization, training
and discipline, but first Of all in the
patriotism which uuitcs all Germans
without exception.
Let war last a month or years. it viii
only weld the people together and PRO
mote the strength Of tn. nation i'm a
manner that vii! surprise the world
MI enemies may as we'll now give up
the hope that Germany Will finally sue
cumb In the struggle"
Later. the paper deals with condi-
tons after the war. ana says
of course. we shall then. as before
never be- able TO avoid strikes ana lock
outs, but We dare hope that they will
be more easily and justly settled
At present. OF course. the govern
ment is doing everything to keep the
Socialists in good humor aud make
them forget the suppression of certain
Socialis;ic organs.
y curious instance OF this policy has
just occurred with reference TO "A Ger
tain reading book for soldiers. The
Good '"mradc." by Major Won Niass.
which is being circulated in al bar
racks and military depots In this
book the Social Democrats are repre-
plague wanting TO divide all prop
erty and aspiring TO the overthrow Of
tho Kaiser and all other legal authori-
ties. Poor Major Won klass, who was
before highly praised for his book, has
now become persona non grata. all
copies of his book have been con!is-
has been published, in which. by the
order of the war lord. all these often
sivc passages have been stricken out.
DOES NOT ADMIT PREVIOUS
OPINIONS ARE WRONG
The government. -howcvcr. docs no,
go SO far as TO admit tina; its previous
opinions of Socialists have been wrong.
but hints the particular COO who looks
after the welfare OF GERMANY. in some
miraculous manner, has brought about
Il change OF heart among these mis-
guided citizens. ana has guided them
back TO the path OF richteousmcss
The army order mentioning the now
cNpurGatcd edition OF The Good Com
radc.' says:
THE Social Democrats have. like
everybody else. done in this great war
their duty i'm complete loyalty To tho
Fathcrland and the needs of faithful
service. In consequence of this, il may
he firmly hoped that the rcproachcs
and warnings contained in certain mes
sagcs in the original edition MAY lose
their validity and need for all time"
Strange ii is TO sec the almost child
like faith which even very violent
political extremists now feel in the
good intentions Of the government,
Thus. Herr Patthof, Il radical hothcad
member III the Rcichstag. who has
given the German Chancellor many un-
comfortable moments in the past
writes in Il Hamburg paper:
ct Is impossible that the great lesson
Of the present time should afterwards
bc forgotten. II will 10 out of tho
question hcnccforth To raise the charge
OF inadequate love for the country and
inadequate loyalty to the cmpir.
against the Social Democrats or other
parties. or against the Poles, Danes
Alsatians or Jews.
An inevitable result OF the present
unanimous cooperation will bc that
in the future "a greater amount OF self
government VIII not be grudgcd to the
German people. Not so much hIreau-
cracy and police, but more autonomy
and elbow room; suclr are the natural
results of the new confidence. the con
ditions OF n better and more. joyful
development In the future"
FUTURE
POLICY DISCUSSED
The well-known Berlin professor
nIiii t.t.l nhII 4,