Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-09-02
storm LET LOOSE
BY GERMANPk7ERS
Unite in Thunderous Summons
for People to Present
Wall of Granite.
PRESENT CURIOUS PARADOX
Resent Wilson's Note, but De-
clare Democratic Reforms
Are Coming.
PRESENT CURIOUS PARADOX

SA0 LILO lulI lCAl Ol fEeSlQeHI w llbOh 3
reply to Pope Benedict's peace mes
sage been printed in the Cologne Ga
zette than there burst forth from tho
leading German organs storm OF re-
sentiment. Stung by tho American ex-
ecutiye's assertion that the German
people are helpless. voiceless tools i'm
the hands of the autocratic military
caste. and feeling the eyes of the
whole world fixed upon every line OF
comment. the chief makers of public
opinion in the empire hastened to unite
In thunderous summons to the Ger
man people to present 4 wall of granite
to what is interpreted as an effort to
unloose revolt within in order to make
easier tho crushing of tho empire by
armed forco from without.
Tho storm still RACES full blast. Tho
Socialist and Radical papers have not
yet been heard from. Indications are.
however that for the time being at
least a solid front will DO made against
the Presidents differentiation betwee
the people and their government. Tho
motives for this concerted counter
drive" range from piqued vanity to
tho sincere conviction that tho slightest
yielding to outside pressure for demo-
3cratizatiou will mean the downfall of
the empire. The sentiments thus far
expressed may be summarized thus:
I'VE know our present system is
wrong. We want reforms and we arc
going to get them, but not by the
grace of foreigners"
Every one of their big journals that
poured out it's bittcrcst doses of in
vective against President Wilson OBJ
serves In tho same breath that the
democrattzing changes in Germany's
governmental system are as sure to
como rs the sun will rise on tho NOR
row.
MOST CURIOUS PARADOX
IN ANY NATIONS HISTORY
Here then lies the crux Of the situa-
Adon, the most curious paradox In a
nations psycholoEical history: Tho
Germans reject with acrid unity PresI-
dent Wilson's rmsadih@ In their In .
aternal AFFAIRS But .aSz.; one imam
sfhey agree that the SeFyFFrsis2 2orms nihlh Whlch
sshe stipulates as the sine qua non CON
Sdition for peace must come and will
come. In this national realization,
clearer and stronger to-day than two
Gays ago. shrewd observers who have
their ear to the ground for the an
pearance Of peace tonight saw the
most hopeful omen recorded since the
fatefui days Of August. 1914.
Who cares by what route democ-
racy enters the Kaiser's realm?" they
arEue President Wilson no doubt
will gladly take all the abuse that
can be showered by the consolidated
founts of German journalistic yitriol
II. after relieving themselves of their
wrath. the German press and people
proceed to gain for themselves that
voice which Mr. Wilson says thew
must have II he will talk about peace.
Tho consensus of opinion In well-,n-
formed quarters tonight is that. d..
spite all appearances to the contrary.
President Wilson's reply to the Popa
has given the possibility Of peace a
\ tremendous lift.
THEIR COURSE DEFINED
BY PRESIDENT WILSON
AS for the entente allies the sav
brought brought new convincing proof that
america, through its President has
ioenned their cause more clearly than
couio nave been done by any Of them.
~ vas maUo Dlatn to.
day by Lord Robert Cecil that the en-
tente was not In any way consulted
by President Wilson in framing and
dispatching his answer to the Pontiff.
The Blockade Minister observed that
considering this fact "the manner In
which the Presidents note expresses
the purposes of all the allied powers
IS all the more remarkable"
From Rome came Observation-Disclosures
adyices crediting Pope Benedict with
absolute determination to continue his
work for peace, no matter how insur-
mountable may appear the obstacles.
The Pontiff is reported to pin great
hopes upon tho already clearly mani.
Tested will of the German people to
seize the full share in the direction OF
Its destinies which President Wilson
makes preconditiona1 fo, peace nego-
tiations with Germany.
Italian press comment Is divided on
President Wilson's note, but the general
trend Is Overwhelmingly one of ap-
proval and admiration for the Presi-
dents stand.