New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-12-22
THE DEMOCRATIZING OF GERMANY
E Added Dsv Of the War Hunger and Bereavement
Maxi fort That End

worst of all the loss of the worlds confidence
in German good faith and Of the respect and
good will which Germans had built up, are
the natural results of entrusting the relns
blindly TO autocracy capable of using It's
own people as cannon fodder and of deceiving
them. Such evidence and arguments may
well increase the formidable ante-bellum
democratic minority into a majority so great
that it can laugh at Prussian dungeons and
courts martial.
The important point is that every added
day of the war, with its added weight of be-
reavement poverty hunger and shame,
strengthens the democrats coming ndict-
ment of this anaehronous government, and
increases the probability that the Germans
can be brought by their own natural leaders
to see that their true interest demands that
they shall at least share truly in thinking
out their own problems in governing and in
educating themselves and that this share
shall be true one instead of nominal one
as at present But this means at least the
beginning Of the democratizing of Germany,
and this in turn means starting her transfer
from the predatory to the peace-seeking
group of nations Such transfer would
more than compensate for the increasing ex-
hauston which lengthening the war must
bring on the Allies.
Here We should remember that, however
long 1t may take to exhaust Gcrmany's re-
sources in men, money, food, and the other
major needs of war, there are many minor
necessities, such as copper, cotton and rub
ber her exhaustion in any one Of which may
bring her to her knees any day. The Allies
command every product Of the world. but
Germany has only those Of the territory she
now controls
A mere return to the status quo ante would
not give balance Of power in its proper sense
Of equilibrium, of a condition such that any
predatory group OF states sees that 1t must
abandon the hope of conquerng the others.
As that hope in German minds has thrown
the burden Of armament on the rest OF the
world, so it's abandonment tends TO disburden
mankind. IL may we'll be that like hope
will vet arise first in one autocratic country
and then in another, on the accession OF a
predatory dynasty, and that the DAY OF dis
armament must be postponed MI the last
form dable autocracy has been democratlzed
Even so, the removal Of that hope from Ger
many is the step to be taken now in this
world process.
Germany, il given the status quo, might
well persuade her people after due rest that
her present snatch for world empire has
tailed only because Oh tHe ihiioNAc VI VIZ
Marine. and that miracles do not repeat them
selves. Because equilibrium must be based
not alone on the strength but also on the
predatoriness Of the powers, it may be
brought about, as far as the German threat Is
concerned either by democratizing her at
least in large part, or by weakening her.
This can be done without truly Remembering
her or changing her institutions forcibly
from, rvithout for the restoration OF her
thefts to their legitimate owners cannot
Justly be called dismembermcnt. To remove
Alsace Lorraine, the Trentno. Poland, Tran
sylvania and the Balkan Slav States from the
rule of the Central Empires would be like
taking from the burglar my arms which he
has turned against me. Because the Allies
cannot be sure that Germany will democra-
tie herself after the war. they may we'll take
this precaution OF depriving her of these lille
climate strengthenings Of her threat to the
rest OF the world
HENRY MARION HOWE.
Bedford Hills, N. Y, Dec 20, 1914