The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1918-08-16
WHAT'S THE MATTER WITH
GERMANY?

with these evils? Let Us look into
the history Of the case:
Germany has been most unfortu-
nate in her history. Away back IN
the middle ages her feudal princes
got tangled up in the Holy Roman
Empire. Under this regime the
greater German mobiles elected, from
time to time one Of their number
to rule in a loose sort OF way. what
is now Germany, Austria, Italy, The
Netherlands. Switzerland. and Easr-
ern France Il was q difficult ter
ritory TO hold together in those
troublesome times and most OF the
energy Of the Emperor was taken
up with affairs beyond the Alps
contests with the Italian cities and
the Pope He was. therefore. forced
to sacrifice his authority over tie
Germans in order 70 maintain some
shadow OF power in strange lands.
Thus. while the Tudor ulonarchs
were welding England into 3 power
full state. while Louis " was beat
ing the ambitious mobiles into sub
mission and making France into q
strong national state under a real
king. while Ferdinand and Isabella
were bringing about United
Spain. the Emperor Of the German
les continued TO De a puppet in the
hands Of feudal mobiles.
The effect Of this was not clear
until the Protestant reformation set
IN. Spain remained wholly Catho-
lie. England adopted Anglicanism-
France after brief struggle adopt
ed . state religion, but in Germany
the Emperor could not control tire
situation. He tried 10 maintain
uniformity and peace but the old
feudalism asserted itself Each
petty prince was allowed TO choose
the religion of his state As 2 re-
suit there grew up two contending
camps that carried on the most de-
vaStating warfare ever suffered BY
modern state. For thirty years the
armies swayed back and forth over
German soil. The Emperor lost
what little power he once possessed.
Two-thirds OF the total population
disappeared. five-sixths OF the cult
waited land went hack 70 brambles
The prosperous German merchants
were replaced by French and Dutch
traders. While France was approach
ing the splendid age Of Louis XIV,
Germany was reduced 70 chaos and
barbarisns- without government.
population wealth OF trade. Al the
surplus wealth accumulated since
the Middle Ages was swept away.
The prosperous middle class disap-
pea1ed entirely Politically. eoonori-
cally and socially she was forced 10
begin where France and England
began centuries before
The first necessity OF this depleted
land was political organization She
must have = strong united govern
ment- One Of the larger states, Be-
varia- Saxony or Brandenburg must
forge ahead.ruthleSSly crush the as
perations and jealousies Of the other
and place herself Al the head OF
united Germany Il was Bran6en-
burg that took the LEAD Under
three nlasterful rulers-The Great
Elector Frederick William I and
Frederick II, better known a Fred
erick the Great-she forged stead
lily forward. II was : difficult task
TO overcome the chronic. disinte-
grating tendencies. In one way
only could Il Be accomplished. By
ruthless aggression and iron Disc
pine Thus was born many Of the
unbeaSahle characteristics Of the
present German state. By the End
Of the 18th century. Brandenburg,
which had Incorporated Prussia and
now bore that name. stood with
Austria the primscy among German
states ! little later 3 leader N
the wars Of liberation against Na-
Poleon she succeeded n rallyiag
around her the national enthusiasm
Of the German fztherlznd b. 1870
she vas master Of al Germany and
IN the same stage politically q
England IN the age Of Elizabeth
and France N the age Of Richelieu.
In trying 70 understand the Ger
many OF TIE present var this fact
/ Of prime mpor1znce-shs i
politically three or four centuries
behind the times Absolute mon
zrchy was once . good thing n
France and IN England Germany
suffered because she did not have
i IN her seventeenth century She
Is now world menace because she
Is trying 70 make use OF Il y
system Of government IN the twen-
tleth century