New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-17
Free Germany a Mirage,
Says Author of "J'Accuse'

democracy. One might as we'll speak
Of victory of the military party, but
the introductory discourse of the new
Chancellor demands that more prudence
be exercised in expressing ones
opinions.
Electoral Reform
Shortly before his downfall Beth
mann-Hollweg persuaded the Emperor
to express in the supplementary re-
script Of the famous but so insigniti-
cant Easter message the prospect OF
electoral rights for Prussia. But the
distance from the prospect to the &C
complishment was very great For as
long as the administration of the state
and Of the provinces remains in the
hands of the nobility and of the class
OF great bourgeoise proprietors, or
landowners, the characterization of
electoral rights will limit the power Of
the Prussian nobility, but il will not
destroy it entirely and will produce in
Prussia only the results which were
produced in England by the reform act
OF 1882. Ii will serve as a transition
between a period Of arlstocracy and a
period Of democracy; it will not in
augurate an era Of democracy.
LET us now pass over to the dis
cussion of the more important problem
of the German internal policy-the in
PRODUCTION of parliamentary form OF
government in the empire. Michaelis is
openly opposed TO the latter. Although
few members of Parliament have been
allowed 10 share in the pleasures and
ia the difficulties Of the Chancellor's
office, that changes very little the state
Of affairs. That has by no means
changed the conservative character Of
the imperial administration, for Ma
nal-Liberals and sometimes even Lib.
erals (Dernburg, Helfferich) have
shared in the government. AS to Herr
Helfferich, the Reichstag has had with
him the same experience as the Rus
sian Duma had with Protopopoff, who
has also once been regarded as Lib
eral.
Opposition to Parliamentarism
"As it is known, the governments OF
Bavaria and SaXony have shown them
selves particularly hostile to the in
PRODUCTION of a parliamentary form of
government IN the empire. Like the
Prussian Conservatives, they are Justl-
flying their attitude by the claim that
the German Empire is of a federative
character.
THE objection is not new. Treit-
schke referred 10 IL when speaking Of
the Constitution Of the United States.
But the objection is not conclusive!
In the United States the Constitution
cannot be modified except by the con-
sent of all the states, while in Ger.
many the majority of the Reichstag
and of the Federal Council is sufficient
to change the constitution. II is not
federalism, but the dynastic interests,
that are opposed to the introduction of
parliamentarlsm in Germany.
IN summing up the whole situation,
il is evident that the thought Of peace
is unquestionsbly following a yictori-
Gus path, but it is hindered by the re-
sistance of powerful and energetic fac
tions. and 1t is not entirely free from
the desire for anneXations.
No Definite Results Yet
"Thc characterization is making
very slow progress. but il has not yet
attained any definite results Of any i'm
portance.
Even the Germanophile newspapers
IN switzerland state with regret that
every German military success threat
ems TO suppress all thoughts of peace
and democracy in Germany.
"As TO a revolutionary movement
only its first symptoms can be observed
in the form of riots by workngmen,
women and children who are suffering
with hunger.
Consequently, the peoples OF Allied
countries will do well in not waiting
till salvation comes from the German
internal condition. For the contrary is
true IN the case OF Germany-the first
military defeat Of German militarism
will open the road for the German de