The Greeneville daily sun. (Greeneville, Tenn.) 1918-1920, 1918-11-11
LIE ENp oF KAIsERIsM.


FINS Germanial With the abdicaton of the kaiser,
modern Germany collapses like preked balloon The
disappearance of the sovereign in any monarchca state
would be event Of the first Importance in the German
empire it is catastrophe In people is the fechike
respect for authority qua such bred in the bone
the German empire. The kaiser was the incarnation
of Germanys might and power; the imperial chancellor
in matters Of policy and the chief Of the great general
sta% in military aairs only held their power and offices
his delegates It is true that the world has been
sured that in the last few weeks the autocrac powers
the kaiser have been diminished and that something like
empire But beyond bare assurance to this eject no
proof furnished to the allies that this was So
Even if the necessary civil guarantees forthcom-
ing long as Germany at the constitution
would be imperative In Berlin in Munich in Dresden
of cities the greater state of siege had been
proclaimed The civil code no longer existed citizens
were governed and offenses punished according to a
Draconian military code. AS consequence so long as
the kaiser the throne he was and remained the
absolute master Of Germany. But unfortunately auto
cratic powers be delegated There no apostolic
succession by which the empire at large would accept
and blindly obey any authority imposed it by the
imperial will If the prestige of the kaiser not su
Gent to maintain him his throne was certainly in
sufficient for him to be able to transmit to any nom
nee he might choose His hopelessly compro-
mised not Of them could exercise any authority
which William II showed he did not possess
The proposal to proclaim his sixyear-od grandson
emperor would not for instant be accepted by the
other kings and ruling grand dukes and princes of the
German confederation The acceptance Of such pro
posal would be negation of the imperial dignity The
nature of the office precludes its being placed in
mission German regency would therefore be without
any raison detre The only solution of kaiser crisis
would be for the confederated rulers of Germany to
to elect a new kaiser
But in view of the constitutional changes announced
Though not officially vouched for) would be impos-
sbe TO rthe ruling kings and princes delegate supreme
authority in Germany to any of their number The
kasers abdicaton therefore, indicates the final passing
of the imperial dignity.
The question that now interests the allies is with
whom will they negotiate? 1t is not possible to
to terms with anarchy and what will become of the
nation at large? Germany, for eighteen months past
was not being fed; it was being ratoned There were
cards for the issue of bread meat milk sugar. Clothes
boots ETC. The equal distribution of food was only kept
going with the aid of huge and delicate bureaucratic
machine
But if the present outbreak of boshevism throws the
proverba money wrench into this machinery what is
going to happen to Germanys SOOOOOOO inhabitants?
Already reports current of railway strikes the sea-
ports in the hands of insurgents that all stores
Of food amassed there can longer be counted upon
Germany is credited with having about 5000 900 men
under arms. Each man of them must be fed. If the
rations should be wanting for AZ hours the German
armies would be face to face with starvation.
1t is reported that there are at this moment 100000
deserters from the German army in the capital There
is provision for feeding these men, they possess no
money to buy food In AZ hours hunger will probably
be driving these to desperation. The police in the
capital is poweress to cope with such situation. But
when this state of affairs spreads to the whole
what will happen? What authority can discredited
government exercise over 100000 men armed with
rifles and machine guns and provided with ammunition?
1t would be the irony of fate if the German govern
ment Tor what is left Of it) should not only permit but
should mpore the allies their Bonded knees occupy
the country not in the interest of the entente but ir
order to save the country from chaos and anarchy
Washington Post.