The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1917-07-14

ming and doing in secret what 1t de-
sires."
No Diminution of Military Power.
State departments bulletin con-
tinues;
There is not the slightest reason
to believe that II will result In any
thing remotely approaching revolu-
ton, or in any dmnuton Of Ger
many's military power. The crisis
proba bly, will lend to internal reforms
which from the point of view OF Ger
many will seem colossal but will be
in truth only the first step towards
making the German people masters
OF their own destiny.
The most that can be expected to
result from the crisis in the near
future is. first, the abolition of the
Prussian three-class voting system and
the establishment of equal manhood
suffrage: second, a demand by the
reichstag that the government should
declare its adherence to the so-called
war program of August 4. 1914.
which stated that Germany was not
driven to war by the desire OF con-
quest, but that the German people
took UP Arms only In defense OF free
dom. independence and to guard their
territorial possessions.
Should elections to the Prussian
diet be based on equal manhood suf-
frage, control Of the diet would pass
from the Junker party to the Social
lists Radicals and Clericals and the
Internal affairs OF Prussia would cease
TO be controlled by the land-holding
aristocrats Of Eas. Prussia. But
splendid as this reform would be, 1t
would not touch the two vital features
in which Germany's constitution must
he changed before the German peo-
tnir yy1e n
Germany will not he on the road to
political freedom until the chancel-
lor has been given control over the
military authorities.
Chancellor Has No Authority.
J AT present not only has the reich
stag no control whatever over the
chancellor. who is responsible to the
emperor alone, but the chancellor Is
utterly without authority over the
military leaders. AS a result, in the
words OF Germanys foremost states
men, the military authorities do as
they please and leave the civil au-
thorities to come along behind ami
apologize" until the people of Ger
manv> control their chancellor ana
through him control their field mar
shals no more reform OF electoral laws
Similarly the passage by the reich
/ stag Of a resolution demanding that
the government declare its adherence
to the war program Of August 4.
1914. would not be so important stop
| towards peace as 1t would appear to be
! on its face.
/ First. 1t must be noted that. owing
| to the reluctance OF the national lib
erals and many members of the Roman
| Catholic Centrum party to subscribe
/ to a peace without extensive annexa-
! tons. It Is doubtful whether or not a
majority In the reichstag can be o.
| tanned for the resolution.
Second. because of its constitutional
Importance the reichstag cannot force
! the government to act on any such
resolution It may pass.
Third, even though the government
| should declare it's adhesion to the war
! program OF August 4. 1914. this would
not be an explicit offer OF pepace with
! out annexations or indemnities. For
| 1t would leave the way open for an
! exations under the alias OF 'readJus.-
| met of strategic frontiers and for in
! IDENTITIES under the pseudonyrn Of rep
aration.'"