The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1918-05-09
Some Lessons from History
HOhenzOII8TR KnItuT.
WILLIAM L. FREELAND

The philosopher standing beside a
newly constructed dam that holds in
check the current Of a mighty river
muses. upon the steadily growing pow
er. Hour by hour he watches the
silent rising Of the water. win it be
controlled for useful purposes or will it
be a ruthless giant destroying wanton-
" and without pity? He thinks Of
the thunders that rend the clouds and
pour waters upon the quaking hills
He thinks Of the wild free torrent that
once only knew the way Of its choos
ing now tanned and its wild energy
obeying the will Of its master. Led
into peaceful ways it may give light
and comfort to distant homes or con
iuring with the elements it may steal
from the air a substance that goes into
the making Of an explosive that shames
the thunder's voice.
So the Teutonic tribes who cen'u'
ries ago wandered through the cid for
ests Of middle and northern Europe
we're a wild free people. Their fierce
energy may be likened to the noun
tain torrent that uncontrolled rushes
heedlessly on its way dashing in mad
fury against each rock that bars lis
path. For generations this force was
dissipated in disorganized warfare. In
a general way we may say that until
the Hohenzollern family became mast
ers Of Prussia that no state gave intel
ligent direction to shis wasted energy.
They began to build the dam that
year by year and century by century
has accumulated power which they
have directed to their own purpose
and to suit their own ambitions. That
it was terrible force they harnessed
the world now knows 10 its cost
Steadily through the generations this
royal family has added strength TO the
dam that holds in check the human
stream nom which they derive their
power. Steadily they have raised the
height Of their structure until now it
brings desolation to lands far removed
from the banks Of the wild stream
where they began their work.
We can not review the earlier work
Of the Hohenzollerns but We have seen
how Frederick took Silesia and part
Of Poland, how little Denmark was rob
bed and France, fallen into the hands
Of weak leaders, despoiled. Finally all
Of Germany was united under the Prus
sian king as kaiser. Laler we may
venture to indicate what were the
probable purposes CT this autocrat in
the present conflict.
We have heard much OF German
Kultur during the present war. This
word can not be exactly translated in
to English though probably efficiency
is not bad rendering in the sense
that the German has come to believe
that his is a superior civilization (kul
tur). 1t has been the purpose Of the
autocracy to educate the mass OF the
nation to believe that they are the
most wonderful people 10 the world and
that it is their mission to give 10 al
the earth their superior kultur as, they
term it. To keep the people at home
satisfied the Hoher zollerns have alway
sought TO give certain minimum o
physical comfort 10 the masses. Fred
erick the Great while demanding grea
sacrifices from the people still sou2h
with all his ingenuity 10 provide tha
there be no real want for absolute ne
cessities in the kingdom. The polic'
he put into effect has been followed b.
his successors. Today Germany ha
certain quasi socialistic plans in opera
ton always looking purely to the physi
cal comfort oI the people and unde
the absolute direction Of the autocracy
The very benefits are used as a mean
to strengthen the influence Of the Ho
henzollerns. In the old days beior
the blightiDg influence Of the Prussial
autocracy had spread over German
that people produced poets, philosc
pliers and musicians Of fine ideals an
inspiring power l. has been the pul
pose Of the II hsnz 1lIsrns 10 destrc