Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-09-22
Saturday, September q, 1917.
Germany Ripe for Revolution?

n we are ignorant of actual condi-
tons in Germany. the people of the
central empires are just as ignorant Of
all that is gong on outside the line Of
their defenses. We do not know. but
from all that we can learn the people
OF Germany and Of Austria Hungary
are ripe for omething-anything that
promises relief from the privations
and sacrifices which they have under
gone in the last three and one-half
years Hunger. death and adversely
have haunted the homes OF the lands.
and sacrifices which they have under
en- I'D permanent residence in every
household There Is no escape from 1t
until years have softened the pain and
the heartaches Of the wounded and be-
reaved and the only relief can be
cessation OF hostilities. and a govern
ment that will secure to these people
the assurance that they are never to
be forced into 1t again.
At the capitals OF the Allies 1t is be-
lieved that the German people are ripe
for revolution They have been
trioked and deceived into a war that
has reduced them to the verge of
bankruptcy. Their government. while
talking 10 them constantly of loyalty
20 their country. and the necessity OF
patriotic sacrifice in the common
cause (the hardships of today paying
for a great future). has reached into
every home in the land. and stripped it
clean OF its food its treasure, its metal
ornaments. and its sons. young and old
anything and everything that could
be Of service 70 the military autocracy
has been dumped into the hopper of
German woe. And the people have
suffered all these things in the name Of
Germany, while cheering the mad
monster. Wilhelm. and believing them
selves. in their hereditary conceptions,
pulse OF the military autocracy of
Prussia Benumbed in heart and
brain. and bleeding in every limb. the
German people have cheered them
selves hoarse for "Kultur" and the
plots and atrocities OF the military
masters that were hourly comprising
their moral and financial destruction.
There can he no question but that
Germany is ripe for revolution If her
people could but understand. If they
could see a ray of hope in a new kind
OF life. a life stripped OF the blighting
domination OF Prussianism, days and
deeds not directed by the hands Of
greed and unholy ambitions-but how
shall they be made to understand?
How can the intelligence be made to
reach them with its message Of hope?
Most students or international con-
ditions believe that the only means Of
conveying this message to the people
81 Germany and Of Austria Hungary.
is through the channel of the organi-
cations Of the working classes, per-
haps the German Socialists. which is
the strongest political party in the
German Empire. But all admit that
II would he folly 10 expect the tradi-
lions OF generations to be wiped out in
the Developments of few weeks or
months The overthrow OF the abso-
lutist and the characterization of the
machinery Of government may be an
after-war problem. but the world must
arrange peace terms with the people
and not with an irresponsible autocrat
who believes that a sacred agreement
between nations is nothing but a
scrap OF paper
The world can never make treaties
with Within or his pervert son. for
they know not the meaning of a per-
sonal or national honor that stands in
ambitions way.
The power OF the military chiefs
must be broken. That may come in
overwhelming military disaster. but
the quicker process is growth of the
seed OF revolution.