The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-10-28

I Tn, difficulty OF making peace with
/ Germany as at present constituted liz
, that the whole world feels that peace
made with its present government
would not be lasting, that such peace
would mean the deta chmert OF some
I If the allies from the present world
/ alliance against Germany. perpaTa-
ton by Germany in the light OF her
needs as disclosed by this war. and
the declaration OF a new war In which
there would be no battle Of the Marine
TO turn back the tide OF German world
conquest.
For a long time before this war
radicals In Eqgland pinned a great faith
to the Socialist party OF Germany.
How ntfle that faith was Justified APP
pea rcd in juIy and August OF 1914,
when the Socialist party tamely voted
credits for the war. a war declared
by the emperor on the mere statement
that IL was a defensive war. declared
because it was alleged that certain In
vaaions Of German territory. never
since suhstantiated, had taken place.
The Socialist party is divided It
ie great pity that the world cannot
deal with men of the type OF Scheide-
mann. who in other democracies
would appear so conservative as to be
almost reactionary. But Scheidemann
and his friends. while they have, in
their attempted negct tia tons with the
Socialists OF other countries. the pres
cnt protection OF the imperial govern
ment. will have no hand in debating
terms Of peace so long an that govern
ment is in existence. They are being
used In an effort To divide the allies.
As President Wilson said IN his mes
sare t0 Russia OF May 7e fgf1
The war has begun 10 so
against Germany, and in their
desperate desire To escape the in
esyitahle ultimate defeat. those
who are in authority in Germany
ere using every possible instru-
mentality. are making use even
Of the influence OF the groups and
parties among their own subjects
20 whom they have never been
Just or fair. or even tolerant. TO
promote 3 propaganda on both
sides OF the sea which Will pre=-
serve fag them their influence at
home and their power abroad to
the undoing of the very men they
are using.
SOCIALISTS NOT
4 GREAT IIBER Al PARTY
There is an impression abroa d that
the Social Democratic party of Ger
many. usually known abroad az the
Social party. partakes of at least some
OF the chara cteristics OF a great Idher-
al party This Is far from being the
case BY their acts. II not by their
express declarations. they have shown
themselves as opposed to the monar-
chicai form Of government. and their
leaders are charged with having de-
ella red themselves openly in favor OF
free love and against religion.
The Roman Catholic church recog-
rizes In social democracy Its greatest
enemy and has made great efforts to
eounteract the advance OF social de-
mocracy by fostering a sort of Roman
Catholic trades union for q religious
body OF Socialists.
The Social Democrat in Germany is
almost an outcast Although one third
Of the member OF the relchstag be-
long to this party its members are
never called TO bold office in the gov.
eminent, and thr attitude of the whole
OF the governing class--of all the pro-
fessors. school teachers clergy OF both
Protestant and Roman Catholic reli-
eions. Of the prosperous middle classes
is that Of violent opposition to th'
doctrines OF Social Democracy. Tht
world must entertain no illusion tha
the Social Democratic leaders speai
! for Germany.
( RULE FROM
ABOVE DOWNWARD
II the Industrial populations hat
their fair share of representation III
/ the rsichstag they might perhaps ever
| control that body But, IS have tim
and again reiterated, the reichstn'
has only the power of public opinion
Z 80 tnAn fu laA
| officials appointed from above down
ward All or these officials in Ger
! many must be added to the othe,
! classes that have mentioned. There
are more officials there than in an.
| other country in the world. As. the.
owe their very existence to the gov
ernment. they must not only serve tina
! government. but make the enemte
| OF that government their own. There
| fore. they and the circle OF their con
! nections are opponents of the Socia
| Democrats.
! All this shows how difficult II 4
| at present for the men OF reasonable
| and liberal views, who do not wish Il
! declare themselves against both re
ilrfon and morality, to find a politica
| refuge.
HOW LrBF,RAL PARTY
MAY BE FORMED
Chancellor won Rethmann- Fl OLIVES
/, himself a Liberal at heart. az havs
! said, declared that there must hs
| changes In Germany 1t Is perhaps
within the boands Of probability that
| n treat new Liberal patty will bs
| formed to VIII eh / have referred. com
r..ged OF tho more ecu et,a''y"
! cial Democrats, of the remains OF
the National Liberal and Progressive