Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1917-03-30
Mutterings Of Revolution In Germany

The tide o. democracy is rising in Germany as il
rose in Russia That swelling undertone, the mut
terings Of millions is heard along Inter den Linden
as il was heard along the Neysky Prospect. and all
the bureaucrats and the militarists of the German
empire are fearful az the thought Of revolution.
Won Bethmann HoIlweg. master mind in inter.
nal affairs. whatever one may think of his diplo
mary. is striving calm the growing discomfort.
He is promising reforms. reforms and still more re-
forms. And yet the restless Socialists and the
famous Left in the lower house of the Prussian Diet
are NOT appeased. Their demands are the demands
Of the German people protest against the iunkers,
against the lofty Conservatives against all the war
makers who have waded knee-deep in their nations
blood
Yesterdays dispatches were profoundly sgni-
icant Twice now within two weeks the chancellor
has taken occasion publicly to promise electoral
forms soon as the war is over The first instance
on the day after the Russian revolution was
complished AT that time the rigid German censor
ship had prevented the German people from know.
ing the news, but German ofieialdom knew it-and
frembled al the thought that the Romanoffs had
fallen the ear was imprisoned. the Duma in the
ascendant, democracy ruling vast country.
Unable to keep rumors of the overthrow Of the
Russian dynasty from the people, the chancellor
s0ftened the blow by speech proclaimng intention
to bring about reforms Now again he mnst give
promises S4his means Enthusiastically that there is
rebellion in Germany against the rule that has
brought a terrible war and now the prospect of
crushing defeat.
On the evening of March To- Won Bethmann- Holl.
veg made in the Diet this remarkable statement
.sWoe to the statesman who cannot read the signs
Of the times. Woe to the statesman who believes
that after catastrophe such as the world has never
seen tafore the scope of which contemporaries and
those directly engaged in ii cannot possibly
- yet, he start where he left, off before the
catastrophe
Renlatkabeg Yes. This is not mere rhetoric. 1t
vas the answer to Conservative who had told the
Diet that the government must satisfy all Germanys
demands fn the war-to put it badly. that the gov
eminent must exact from it's enemies compensations
Of money and products on a large scale, annexed
territory aud guarantees for the future
This meant, in brief that the Conservatives were
trying 70 stand where they stood when the war
broke out
But the chancellor has Illusions and in this
speech he served notice that reforms must he given
which viii make the privileged class give up their
privileges
One deputy. Hoffman, has recently been expelled
from the Diet because he warned the war-lords
against revolution. He pointed to Russia as an ex-
ample of what is likely to happen to Germany. For
this plainspQken language. he lost his seat
The startling success of the Russian revolution
ls shaken the Hohenzollern structure to its depths
The National Liberals. the Liberals and the Social
lists are not to be appeased by soft words. And
meanwhile the suffering of the people is shaking the
hold which supreme loyalty has cemented If the
Germans once gain the idea that they have been
tfcked by their leaders in this war; there will be
mother disaster to bureaucracy.
The news from Spain is also indicative of serious
unrest Here is neutral whose suffering is yirtu-
ally as great that of some of the bellgerents.
A month ago the man that predicted a successful
revolution in Russia would have been called crazy.
Snch n prediction about Germany and Spain would
today cause less soothing Perhaps the war will
sweep away the European monarchies. with their
outworn fetishes and strutting caste.
HELPING THEM go STRAIGHT"