Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-07-10
GERNIANY,s TROUBLES

~ EhMAN Is 1dCe 10 IaCe with
II another internal disturbance.
Each time the demand for lib
eralization of the government is
made and throttled the comeback is
stronger. How long the Hohen-
zollerns and the pan-Germans will
be able to hold out against this con-
stantly recurring pressure is not ap-
parent, but Americans, hoping for an
early end of the war through revolu-
ton in Germany, should not permit
themselves to be overly optimistic of
peace on that score while Emperor
William and those who surround him
have a card left to play.
1t was Emperor William, address,
ing the German armies, who said:
Now that you have donned my
uniform 1t must be your pleasure
and your duty to follow my
wishes, realizing that 1 rule Ger
many by the direct will of God,
and you must willingly obey my
you to shoot down your own
fathers and brothers in response
TO my dictates.
This is from one of the Kaiser's
printed addresses. published in book
form in the German language and
authorized by himself. Fantastic
and ridiculous as it may appear to
American eyes, it nevertheless sets
forth the views of Wilhelm, and it is
easy to understand that a man hold
ing such notions will be the last to
surrender to the people any of the
powers for the extension of which he
has risked his crown, sacrificed his
people by the million, plunged his
country into bankruptcy and dragged
his own name and the reputation of
the German people in the mire.
Or again, the same deductions may
be had from a perusal of the En-
perors address at Konigsberg.
August 25, 1910, in which he said:
Here my. grandfather. again by
mis- own right, set the Prussian
crown upon his head, once more
distinctly emphasizing the fact
fact that IL was accorded him by
the viii of God alone and not by
Parliament or by any assembiage
of the people or by popular vote,
and that he looked upon himself
ds the CHOSEN instrument of
heaven and as such performed his
duties as regent and sovereign
Looking upon myself as
the instrument of the Lord. with
out regard for daily opinions and
Intentions, I go my way, which is
devoted solely and alone to the
welfare and peaceful development
OF the fatherland.
Internal strife is beginning to stir
in Germany. Leaders of thought are
saying things and people are think
ing along lines that would have
meant prison before the war. The
example of Russia, which overthrew
her czar in night and is yet able to
make successful war against Ger
many, is doing much to increase the
discomfort of the people already be-
ginning to doubt the efficiency of
their form of government, discour-
aged by the ever increasing circle of
foes without and on the verge of
starvation from Prussianized war
diet within. But withal there seems
little or no chance of speedy end
Of the war through the instrument
tality of reform from within. The
people of Germany are not yet
humble enough for that. The strong
arm Of might must bring them to
their senses before much can be ac-
complished along that line.
There is no indication that the
German people. If they thought they
saw a chance of victory, would not
vote to continue the war indefinitely.
This state of mind must be changed
before Germans will risk their lives
In revolt, and reform through the
government is almost impossible to
achieve. AS a writer in the Chicago
Tribune points out, the elective sys-
tenn in Germany is not calculated to
give popular control; rather the op-