South Bend news-times., 1917-10-26
DEMOCRACY FOR
GERMANY CERTAIN
Element in ReiChStag De-
mandS Reorganization =
AutoCraCy Shaken.
BY PAUL LOUIS
The Mcll-knOwn French Foreign
Affairs Expert.


PARIS (by maiD, oct. 26.-For
many months Germany has been
undergoing Il profound political
crisis. which has steadily grown in
amplitude and intensity. Some peo-
pie affect 20 attach only slight i'm
portunce 10 this state of things. de
claring their belief that Germanys
internal difficulties are a fiction in
vented by the kaiser and his ad-
visers in order TO deceive the en-
tente allies. But this is pushing
skepticism and suspicion too far.
For myself 1 admit that, at the
risk Of being thought TO be very
simple-minded l attribute great
value 10 these internal STRINGS in
Germany. and ] believe they will
have an influence upon the course
of the war and upon the future
status of Europe.
No one will have forgotten the
important debates of 1908 in which
the antagonists were the adherents
of the old absolutist and feudal re-
gime and the proponents of reform
in the reichstag For many years
the elected imperial chamber and a
great part of public opinion have
demanded the establishment Of q
democratic electoral system in
Prussia and other states OF the en-
pire, and also parliamentary gov
ernment within the confederation
Last July's happenings in Berlin.
both before and after the fall of
Bethmann-Hollw are only part
of long string OF events. But the
rising Of sections Of the nation
against masked absolutism and
against the oligarchy has been
growing with every generation. Had
not the war broken out. perhaps IL
would have attained such a force
that reforms would have been in
evitable; but the war has had the
result Of shaking established dom
nations, weakening personal power
and rendering the masses conscious
of their inalienable rights.
Germany can no more escape her
destiny in this respect than any
other nation And that is why
do not agree with those who say
with superb assurance: There will
be no revolution in Berlin" I am
the less tempted 70 take that view
because there are various forms OF
revolution, not all OF a bloody or
der.
/ As To imperial affairs. the de-
mands Of the democratic elements
in the reichstag are as follows: %
/ the chancellor and secretaries OF
] frr
mem bers of the reichstag; CD the
wise and guide the emperor in the
/ choice and dismissal of ministers.
The particular states of the con-
/ federation have less of the sem
/ blance of democratic institutions
than the empire. In Prussia the
junkers are all and the millions of
people nothing. There are 10 So
/ ciaI democrats in the reichstag,
most of them elected by the Prus-
sian manufacturing districts, but
there are only ten social democrats
/ in the Prussian landstag, although
this assembly has more members
than the reichstag.
Naturally the war has supplied
new arguments 20 those who de-
mand reforms. The people, who
/ have suffered unprecedented sacri-
/ fees and are the victims of mis-
\ takes and faults Of personal power
and noble. middle class. military
and financial ologarchies, are deter
mined 10 secure undivided control
/ of their own affairs. The receptions
and defeats of Germany's leaders
! have weakened their prestige and
| their power to resist internal at
Itacks. The shaking OF regimes
heretofore regarded as solid has
given impetus to sO-called subver-
sive ideas. In vain have BuelOW,
/ and after him Bethmann-H Hollweg,
/ laughed at the threats of the
/ masses: the more the dynasty and
/ the junkers display their powerless-
ness 10 bring peace 10 the seventy
millions Of men they have thrown
/ into the conflict the stronger Will
grow the demand of these millions
for a change.
The Russian revolution, Wilson S
! messages and the American inter
vention cannot leave the Germans
! Indifferent: in their ensemb BILE. these
events constitute the most striking
/ Indictment of all against the auto
/ cratic structure of Germany. Many
are the Germans who today realize
I that the hostility of world opinion
/ against them has its roots in their
I political system. and that a pro-
found and rapid transformation of
/ that system would hasten the much
desired armistice We have never
given sufficient attention 70 this as
/ pect of Germany's situation The
very men who failed TO foresee the
destruction Of tsarism and Ameri-
can intervention are those VINO shut
I their eyes 10 the internal fermenta-
/ tion going ON i'm Germany.
The Intervention Of Hindenburg
and Ludendorff against the social
( democrats on July - last resulted
! in check 10 the steady drive
toward internal reform. and the
ministerial changes at the begin
ming OF August were made against
the wishes of the socialist and pro-
gressive groups Of the reichstag;
and because the latter failed 70 or
ganize a moral insurrection some
people believe that Germany is for
d.