The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1917-07-19
THE GERMAN CRISIS

Things seemingly of grave import
have been happening in Germany late
ly, but there does not seem much
ground upon which to build hope that
the Kaiser's arm has been shorten
ed or his rotten heart changed. The
Baltimore Sun, under the above cap
ton, says that it remains to be seen
what Germany has gained or lost by
shelving the former Chancellor, Won
Bethmann-Hollweg, but that one
thing is clear, and that is that his
retirement is due to strong dissatis-
faction with his management and to
the political conflicts and dissentions
bred of this dissatisfaction. :.
The man who succeeds him seems, at
best, to be a compromise and fig
urehead. He represents, however, a
changed internal situation, as Won
Hindenburg represent a changed
military situation at the front. Ger
many is on the defensive in the field:
the fact that a new Chancellor has
been chosen as the nominal director
of civil affairs indicates that the gov
eminent is on the defensive at
home" Condensing The Suns edi-
torial on this subject: 4
Unrest in Germany has been great
ly increasing recently, and to the do
nestle agitation has been added posi-
tive pressure from without in the peace
influence exerted through Austria bv
way of the Vatican. 1t is reported
from London that the Pope has dis
patched special carriers to Vienna and
Munich with autograph letters to the
Emperor Of Austria and the King Of
Bavaria, regarding negotiations for
peace. Whether that be true or not,
there is good reason to believe that
the change of attitude on the part of
the Catholic representatives in the
Reichstag was known and approved
by the Vatican, if not the. result of
its counsels.
The fact that Won Bethmann- Holl-
veg has been forced out of office
does not prove, however, that there
has been a Prussian change of heart
The retiring Chancellor has had a
difficult road to travel ever since it
began to become plain to the German
masses that Germany had run ur
against a stone wall, and that there
was no thoroughfare for her in the
direction in which she set out to gc
in 1914. He was between the dew
of Prussian autocracy, which contin
ues to demand the impossible anc
whose fate depends upon the Prussiar
dreams of conquest, and the deep ses
OF popular discomfort.
The new Chancellor was brough
up in the old school of Prussian of
fIPIoldnnn ond &c i,o4,, L.
his elevation is. largely due to tn
personal activity and influence of tn
German Crown Prince, who is bitter
ly opposed to reform and is rule
even more thoroughly by the oil
spirit of Prussionism than is hi
father. If the Crown Prince has bee
permitted to dictate what has occur
red in Berlin it is probable that tn
Emperor has exhibited weakness an
has taken the advice of a bad cour
celor. The appearance of the Grow
Prince, who will go down in the his
tory OF the wars military operation
as the man who made great Gel
man cemetery of Verdun, is not re
assuring. He is distinctly the rel
resentative of Germany's evil gel
lus; A new program may be 70,
mulated which may make definit
peace proposition, designed to CO,
ciliate public opinion at home ar
abroad, but if the new Chancellor
the Crown Princes Chancellor, an
peace offer that comes from thu
source will have to be inspected We,
carefully. On the whole The Su
concludes that what has happene
in Berlin does not seem to elimina
what must be eliminated before pea,
can be considered-the spirit of Pru
sianism from which this war sprin
ard from which others will follow .
long as it moves unrestrained upon IL
face of the EARTH"