New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-02

lvHEIh succeeded In crossing the
lrontler with his wife and small chill
"'e" INTO Switzerland and safety.
Is Revolution Possible.
Now. Of course, the question every
one wants answered is this: Is a revo-
Iu'ioh IN Germany and the establish
meh' OF German republic possible. or
are men IKE Eoesemeyer and his friends
WeIi-meaning Missionaries, doomed never
true? '''''''' 'o''e
IN tqe course of an interview he
granted not long ago 10 "Le Tennis"
koeSemeyer declared that he was au-
IhorIzed by the German republicans 10
warn the Entente powers not to count
on speedy German revolution. as such
an event seemed highly improbable.
strangely enough, this statement was
a. once taken up by the German official
WON bureau, which SEPT off dispatch
90 al! neutral countries to this effect:
III, koesemeyer. formerly editor of
'he Berlin 'MOrCenpoSt,' saws he is
authorized to ask the Entente press 70
. exert every effort in order to destroy
, me Illusion Of the possibility of a revo-
I luton in Germany To this typical
attempt on the part Of Wolf to distort
: ms interview Roesemeyer has since re-
piIed IN his paper by the following
declaration. which seems TO me 70 be
me best answer it is possible 10 give
question:
u have warned the Entente press no.
20 oyerrate the revolutionary movement
IN Germany. because | consider it nv
auty to do all | can to prevent the
Entente's military strength | eng weak
ened by foolish illusions. There are.
however. revolutionary currents and
men IN Germany, not only among the
/ WORKING classes or the intellectual
classes, but also among the middle
classes and even the officers Of the Ger
man army, as we'll as in aristocratic
and diplomatic circles In unison with
these Germans, and IN their name. [
nevertheless declare that. to nv belief
there is unhappily no chance of a reyo-
luton being successful in Germany for
some time yet. ] only wish all pacifs.s
IN the Entente countries. and particu-
iarIy IN Russia, would take this dec
laration to heart"
Inc meaning of these words is clear
/ enough. Revolutionary ideas are gain
/ ing ground IN Germany in all classes
/ Of society, but they are not vet sufi-
/ GENTLY strong and universal TO culmi-
| nate IN successful uprising. because
! PrIsslan militarism still towers, not
visibly shaken, above the people. Only
/ when II really begins 10 totter will the
German republic cease to be an illusion
| That is why Rocsemeyer and his fol
lovers wish the Allies TO be victorious.
. ihey see in such an event a victory
. hrs 70 -
exactly like President Wilson
II there is one thing | regret, il is
that Germans in America. and some
/ German-born Americans, cannot look
over few copies of the "Freie
Ieitung.' ] am sure they would soon
begin 10 doubt whether they were really
serving the interests of the German
people by attempting to hinder the
United states government from lighting
Germany with all its mighty strength.
A Democratic Prince
However. by no means all Germans
who believe the time has come for
/ Germany TO take her place among dem
ocratlc nations exclusively pin their
/ faith TO future German republic A
good many of them think a democratic
German empire not an impossible par.
adoX. possibly with an emperor al its
/ head elected by the people. This idea
which | have often heard expressed
/ here in Switzerland. appeals 10 Ger
mans because it is in accordance with
their historical traditions. Far back
in the Middle Ages Germany was an
electoral empire" although. of course.
the emperor was not elected by means
Of a popular vote. but by the minor
I 80, e L..
day the emperor would be chosen di-
rectly by the people, and be, in fact, a
kind Of crowned president, not more
| powerful than the King OF England.
Needless 10 say. the present Kaiser
and his heir would never submit to
! such change, which in their eyes
would seem an uncomfortable humilia-
! ton. The Hohenzollerns will never
resign their divine right" unless mil
! ltary defeat and revolution force them
to do so-and then, in all probability,
| it would be too late. and one of the
more liberal minded reigning fam
lies of Southern Germany would take
| their place. The movement in favor
Of an electoral empire is, therefore. as
/ frankly hostile TO the Hohenzollern
/ dynasty as the republican movement.
And yet men OF high rank and inhu-
I ence are among its promoters.
Not long ago people IN Switzerland
| interested in German political devel-
! opments were startled by series Of
articles in the "Neue Zuricher lei
| tung," the most important and re-
specteG newspaper appearing in Ger
man Switzerland. They were signed by
German prince Prince Alexander
/ Hohenlohe and their general purport
was that unless the Kaiser and his
government made their war aims pub
! lie soon and granted the people demo-
| cratic reforms much greater than
thos, promised Prussia in the mon
a~ch's hypocritical Easter message"
q general uprising would sweep the
Hohenzollerns and their supporters
away
The man who made this statement in
y SWISS newspaper. published in Ger
man. j. the youngest son OF Prince
Chlodwic lohe-Schillingsf urst,
/ who was Chancellor of the German En-
pire before Prince B1low and Herr
/ ,on Rethmarn-HollweG. He belongs
| -o one of the oldest and most cele-
Dratcd families Of the German aristoc-
racy; he has himself occupied high
/ official position under the German gov
/ eminent. on many occasions he has
! been face TO face with the Kaiser.
There can be no doubt about his disir-
| terested patriotism. He is above re
rroach. and the German government IT
/ self, however anxious TO do so, Is I'M
| able to cast a slur on the motives that
! have led him TO sever all connection
with imperial Germany and devote
/ himself in Switzerland to the cause or
/ German democracy.
have had opportunities TO speak
,,,;,b porsors who know Prince Alex