New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-19
REORGANIZING GERMANY
Political Changes That Would Democratze the Imperial
K,.er Should Have the Chance Make Them Voluntarily

ara "suflcisnt safeguards against aiolu"iy
iIl considered or unnecessary declaratlohs u
war" . A.,
| do not recall that the consent OF tn'
Bundesrath was sought and obtained az
preliminary TO the declaration OF war Dy uei
many against Russia in August lVls' ~ =
was sought and obtained, that could nav
been done only on the theory that the oOJeT
of the war was aggression or conquest
such consent was not obtained, then h'
KsI.or must sustaln the burden Of proyinl
that the war was purely for defence; otner
wise. he committed revolutionary ACT anu
the German Imperial Constitution started
for the rubbish pile before the Hague Con
vention. The Chancellor, as the Kaisers ad-
vocate, has undertaken this burden OF PROOF
notably in the Reichstsg December H. 1910
al the time when he announced that corner
ence was desired. II would be the part OF
wisdom TO assist the Kaiser TO sustain thls
burden OF proof, because in sustaining i
he must forego ali demands for terrltoriai
ACQUISITION, and thus grant without ais,
cussion the restitution Of Belgium arc
Northern France, leaving open for exchange
OF views merely the question OF repara,
ton and the questions as 10 the poIlucai
future Of Poland, Lithuana, Serbia, Iur-
key and other territory occupied by te
Central Powers. 1t is even possible that lu
furtherance of the design TO sustain MS Dur
den of proof, and in consideration OF the sus-
pension Of hostilities, the Kaiser Will con
sent in advance to withdraw his forces troiD
Belgium and Northern France II tnat sug-
gestion be made who would be so DiVo4 mac
as to- refuse it,, even though as a military
operation in the face Of powerful eneH!
such a withdrawal would be perilous II not
mpracticable7
II the direct legislative representatives. OF
the German peoples in the Keiehstag III az
oust. 1914. had had the power to veto decla-
ration of war for any purpose there woul
have been as little chance Of precpltating
Tho existing cataclysm as there is to-day OF
tho Congress Of the United States voting 70
narticipate on either side in the present con
fict. ,.ol
The second defect in the German Imperial
Constitution was the taking away from the
Imperal Execptive Office OF It's Original
elective character About forty-six years
ago william |, King Of Prussia, was elected
Emperor Of Germany, but the Imperial Con
stitution was so framed as TO perpetuate MIN
and his posterity in that elective once uhti'
the constitution should be amended to pro-
vide otherwise. The constitution cannot DC
amended in that regard, if there are thirteen
adverse votes in the Bundesrath, and as the
King OF Prussia casts seventeen OF the NIFTY
eight votes in that body, he can always pre-
vent such an amendment.
The constituent organization, consisting OF
the governmental heads of the twenty-five
German prncely commemorative, the repre-
sentatives Of the three free cities and the
representatives of the German people, whlch
created the Imperial Executive Office and de
80. tha fpov n
Prussia. no longer exists; but if the Kaiser
an ordains. il can be reconstructed for the
purpose of new election TO the Executive
Office bv the concurrent resolution of the
Bundesrath and the Reichstag. The election
Of Won Hindenburg for a limited term of years
or for life would merely recognize the real
and existing power Of that individual IN the
German Imperial Government, who has a well
deserved reputation for keeping his word,
even when it is not committed to writing, anJ
whose life has been so exclusively devoted
TO studying and preaching the best methods
for the defence of the German Empire that
before the war he was allowed to occupy only
an obscure position.
There is nothing in the reply OF the En-
tente Allies TO President Wilson which is not
in accord with the foregoing suggestions, and
even if the assumption that the Kaiser has
such moves in mind is a remote one, the re-
fusal by any belligerent government to be
represented in a conference in camera IN the
immediate future to hear what the Kaiser
has to say would be not merely confession
Of lack of ability on the part Of the refusing
government to hold up its end in business
negotiation, but also positive crime against
civilization and humanity
ONE OF THE COMMON PEOPLE.
New York, Jan. IL, 1917.