The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1917-09-01
RESENT U. S. NOTE.
William Bayard Hale Says
HOhenzoIIerns Are Solid.
Germans Demand Right To
Work Out Own Salvation.
dOTE WILL Be PUBLISHED
TeutOns viii Use 1t To WhOOp
Up War Spirit.
They Do Not Want Reforms
Made in the L. S. A.
BY WILLIAM BAYARD HALE.

(Chief Editorial COrreSpO1 dent IN
Central Europe of the Chicago Ex-
aminer.)
Mr. Hale writes the following mem
orandum concerning Central Euro
pean conditions. with which, as the
American corresI ondent for the last
year and a half and a visitor in Ger
many during the last fifteen years he
possesses extra ordinary acquaintance.
He records as the summary of these
impressions the following article:
What will be the effect in Germany
of President Wilson's reply to the
pope?
After many months in Germany,
spent in an attempt to learn the SEN
timents, the proclivities, the intentions
conscious and unconsciou3) Of the
German people, as affected by the
war, l feel it my duty as a conscious
reporter, 10 express a doubt whether
the psychological effect of the pr-si-
dents latest action is being accurate
ly assessed here in America.
] term II "a doubt but is is more
than a doubt. Any one recently out
of Germany must know perfectly we'll
that the sentiments which will be
aroused by the printing in Germany
OF the presidents message will be far
different from those which the ma
jority of the editorial comments and
personal expressions which have APP
DRdTeu mere seem TO depend ulOTs
The text of President Wilson's mes
sage to the pope will be printed in
full in every German newspaper. 1t
will be conspicuC usly displayed. 1t
will probably be placarded upon walls
and kiosks everywhere. Far from
regarding it as a document dangerous.
or even slightly prejudicial to the
morale of the populace, the officials
Will welcome. and will herald 1t as /
most valuable agent and instrument
for the 'whoopirg up" of the war
spirit.
Is Certain About This.
! am absolutely certain about this,
there can be no mistake about it. And
equally certain it is that the American
people should not be allowed to re-
marin under any Misrepresentation
about the matter.
The German people undoubtedly are
suffering under a form of govern
ment which they universally regard as
antlquated and, in innumerable par
ticulars, unworthy of the demands OF
the hour
The following three statements will
not be questioned by anyone familiar
with modern German life and thought:
First-Germany is today the most
highly socialized country in the world.
Second-Individual life in Germany
is as free as in any country on earth
much too free-some moralists be-
lieve.
Third-Nevertheless and notwith-
standing, the formal political organ
ization of the empire is obsolete,
source of constant irritation. and, in
the opinion of a majority of the peo-
pie. a derision.
The Englishman likes his dukes, his
earls and his country squires. He
even has some small respect for a
baronet. He is, generally speaking,
willing to see vast acreage withheld
from productive uses and devoted to
park and partridge grounds, so that the
seats of the gentry who, with much
reason, indeed, he respects, and add
mires may be properly surrounded
with their appanages of pleasure and
socially delightful existence Outside
OF the "midlands,' where he is likely
to be more or less of a Socialist, the
Englishman is perfectly willing to
contribute to the support of the leisure
class. which he believes, and rightly
of the common interests of the nation,
and is ready in time of peril to offer
himself for it.
It is doubtful whether the modern
German "a much better educated man
than his brother in England, much
better read man, and. thru every as
ISOLATION, more hoSpitable to liberal
ideas) is as well disposed toward
what the English catechism calls his
betters' as is his cousin across thu.
in the German empire, counting all.
True, some of them are free cities,
some republics. if not in name, GER
tainly in fact.
Support Many Leisure Men.
Nevertheless, there is an army of
royal and grand ducal princes to sup
port-rather more than in England.
Unquestionably the common sense of
the German people is in revolt over
this horde of stipendiaries. But, dur
ing some fifteen years annual visits
to Germany, including, of late, three
years residence in the empire, l have
been unable to. confirm my expecta-
ton that any general sentiment exists
against the imperial family. True,
there have been moments in which the
scandals which always seek utterance
against high placed personages have
temporarily embarrassed the Hohen-
zolIerns But to assert, or to believe
in. or to count on, any revolt of the
populace against the Hohenzollern
throne and sceptre is an idle dream,
an Illusion, a fatuous will-o'-the-w isp.
And here we come face to face with
the facts with Wilhelm the abso-
lutely sincere desire of honest and
and to understand the conditions, the
thou~hts, the sentiments, the convic-
ions the ideals (call them mistaken
or call them true) which prevail,
which VIII continue TO prevail IN the
world. which will in the end, WELD
the sceptre of Irresistible public opin-
ion-the world must deal:
The first. the chief, the principal
the paramount, the dominant. the
absolutely and eternally Irresistible
and consideration in this unexampled
historic moment is the fact that the
German people will not, absolutely
will not. irrevocably will not, allow
any foreign nation to tell them what
form of government they woIld be
most happier under.
have no doubt hundreds of thou
sands of Germans have no doubt, that
the old regime of the German empire
should be. after thoughtful considera-
ton. altered, modernized. brought INTO
accord with the trend of modern lib
eral thought.
Won't Submit to Dictation.
But-and this the one prime, single
..