The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-09-08
GERMAN PARTY
!, CALLS WILSON A
REAL AUT0CRAT
Tries to Suppress Voice of
People, Assert Roman
Catholic Centrists.

Berlin, via London, Sept. 8.-Tha
Roman Catholic Centrist party has
issued formal statement dealing
with President Wilson's reply to the
peace note of Pope Benedict. mas
much as this statement isnow making
the rounds of the party press it may
be taken for granted that it reflects
the official views of its sponsors. It
urges that the Presidents message,
although phrased in a tone which is
considered offensive, be considered
wholly in the light of it's essential and
objective principle. This, it is pointed
out, gives a different picture from that
reflected in the early press comment.
The declaration of the Centrists
then discusses the discrepancy between
the war aims set down in President
Wilson's message and those proclaim
ed by the Entente, adding that In
this respect Mr.. Wilson's reply ought
to prove acceptable. The statement
then deals with the Presidents de-
nand that the German people stand
surety for their Government, saying:
What Mr.. Wilson has to say con-
corning the characterization of the
German Empire has only demon
strated the helpless ignorance of this
learned President of the United States.
He does not seem to have the slight
est conception of Germany conditions.
Otherwise he would have avoidd, in
connection with such a nom entous
message, conjuring up a comparison
between the methods Of government
of the German Empire and those OBJ
tanning at Washington.
where Is the more democratic
system to be found to-day-Berlin or
Washington? If in truth there stands
today at the head of any belligerent
nation a real autocrat, he may be
found in the United States. Nowhere
else has a. ruler attempted to suppress
the right and desire Of the people to
cooperate in the Government. Is it
necessary to remind the President
that the accredited representatives of
the German people on July 10 of this
year solemnly participated in the dis
position of their destintes? And is it
further unknown to him that the
German Chancellor has summoned
seven members from out of the ranks
of Parliament to collaborate with him
in formulating the reply to the
Pope?
Tin no other country does a similar
institution exist, and no other so-call-
ed parliamentary system OF govern.
ment possesses a similar body of con-
stituted representatives of the people
which Yields equal influence upon the
shaping of policies in respect of an
| important international problem.
Long before Mr.. Wilson addressed this
| demand to the Pope the German peo-
pie backed up their Government and
stood surety that their will shall assert
| itself in the enactment of Hateful re-
solves involving Germany's future.
| Long before Mr.. Wilson arrogated
to himself the right to demand de-
mocratic reforms in Germany our
Government had granted Prussian
| electoral reforms, and we, have the
Kings pledge that the general, direct
| equal. and secret ballot, the most lib
eral electoral franchise in the world
will now become an institution > in
4 Prussia We also have the definite
promise of the Chancellor. DR.. Mi
chaells, that he will seek to achieve
| more intimate contact with Parlia.
| nent, and he has in good faith already
| redeemed this pledge in part.
| "Mr. Wilson may rest assured that
whatever we recognize to be the de-
mand of the hour we will accept OF
| our own volition. He will surely have
learned this much from history
| that any attempt from without to
force strong and mighty people to
adopt certain constitution is wholly
inadmissible. In such an attempt he
| is bound to have little luck with the
German people.
/ 1.-THE events which led up to the
| break in diplomatic relations between
the United States and Germany, fol-
| lowed by the declaration of war
have not become sufficiently clarifiaa
to permit final verdict. In any Gaze
1 it remains for us to devise ways and
means>to arrive at an understanding
with MIR. Wilson.
/ 1--WE consider most stupid the
threat of the an-Gerrnan press thai
peace discussion with such fellow
is wholly out of question, especially
in view Of the fact that Mr.. Wilson
will continue to be President of the
United States for several years more
Most of US are hardly inclined to
carry on the war under al circum'
stances to 1921"
|