The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1918-04-11

and narrow to give this able man
authority to lead, So the revolution
in Austria failed through the lack Of
broad -mindness on the part OF its
greatest leader.
The torrent Of the revolution swept
over Germany and flowed into Prussia.
The Hohenzollerns are always ready
with promises and sought to stay the
rising food with fair words until their
army was ready to deal with the mob.
Years before the king had promised
MS people a share in the government
out he had promptly forgotten his
pledge. An accommodating memory is
a part Of the mental equipment Of
Prussian autocrat. Lett be remember
I'd that at this time the king Of Prussia
vas not the kaiser Of Germany. He
did not get that power until over
twenty years later. All OF south Ger
many was independent Of the house Of
Hohepzollern at this time.
Finally in Germany the revolution
reached stage where a parliament
was assembled. The future was full Of
promise. II only one strong man
could have been found to have lead
the way the history Of Germany and Of
the world would have been different
and rivers Of blood would not have
oeen shed. But no such leader came.
Learned professors and talkative
journalists" delivered pedantic speech
es while the Prussian drilled armies.
The leaders OF the revolution INDUCED
in mutual flttery and admitted to each
other that they were the "Nohlest and
oest men in Germany" History has
written oil these men, They were
too stupid, too intoxicated with delight
in their ephremsl participation in the
government to recognize the illusor7
character Of these achievements"
Tine absolutists allowed them to a.
muse themselves till they themselves
nad completed their military prepara
tions. Then the parliamentry puppet
show came to an end" When the
autocrats moved against them with we'll
drilled armies they had nothing better
10 oppose to Prussian bayonets than
TO discuss fundamental rights with
imposing calm" II only the selfish
aud narrow visioped leaders had SUI
Tered we might pass this as an event
Of where folly reaped its natural harvest
and pass on but the liberty oi millions
Of people we're involved. No doubt
there were strong men in the revou'
ton who could have carried it to a
success but the people did not have
the discernment to select them They
continued to be led by the takers in.
stead Of the doers.
1t is the verdict Of history that the
tragic late OF the German revolution OF
l848 is due 10 the lack Of leadership.
The men who sought to direct its
course were long on words and short
on achievement. They we're as intent
on retaining control Of affairs as the
Prussians themselves and in their short
sightedness they forgot that the Prus
sian system is built to win tomorrow
though it lose today. Its contest with
Napoleon proved that. What Germany
needed was Washington or a Lincoln
but alas, none came. Those who
stood for liberty continued to DRIFT
while selisatisfed leaders indulged in
vain sell praise. They continued 10
tell the people all was we'll until the
Prussian bayonets were at their breasts.
In dealing with such foe as the kaiser
all the power Of the nation must be
used. It is folly to believe we can
win with promises. That leader who
is so self'centered, so complacent as
to resent constructive criticism is too
narrow to lead in great crisis. II
affairs are efficiently conducted the
leader will only gain greater confidence
when the searchlight Of truth is turned
on. This was lesson Germany had
not learned, let us pray that America
understands it today. It is foolish to
CRY against effort to make a nation eI.
fcient, that the enemy will get valu.
able information. Today the kaiser
has more accurate measure Of the