Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-10-23
BERLIN NOW DEFIES
Continued from page !

.
others. Should we ut home maintain ms
fundamental the national egoism which
until short time ago was the dominating
force of the peoples life, there would be
no restitution and no renovation for us.
There would be a feeling of bitterness
which would cripple us for generations
But If we comprehend that the sig
niiicance of this frightful war is, above all,
victory for the iden of JUSTICE and II we
do not resist this idea, but submit with
all good faith then we shall find IN IT n
cure for our present wounds and
reservoir of future strength.
Prince Maxmilan said he would not
deny that heavy opposition in Germany
must be conquered before the ideal League
of Nations could be realized, but he
continued
EQUAL TO WAR OR PEACE TASKS.
Whether the next few days or weeks
shall call us to fight on, or open the way
To peace, there Is no doubt we are now
| equal TO the task of either war or peace
by carrying out the governments 4 pro-
gram and definitely breaking away
from the old system.
The imperial chancellor then discussed
electoral and parliamentary reform. lie
| cited bills before the Reichstag, ono OF
which enables members of the House to
| enter the government without rcsignlng
| and another proposing n change IN the
| laws regarding the responsibility of the
| chancellor. He continued.
Deputies will take part IN the direction
| Of imperial policy and, in the name Of the
| chancellor. will be responsible without
| being ministers Thus new way Is
opened for arriving Mt responsible conduct
OF imperial aflairs-the parliamentary
| way.
| PEOPLE To HAVE SHARE IN GOVERNMENT.
I'VE are convinced that il will supply,
not only the government butte indirectly
parliament, with precious forces from
the people which have hitherto not been
utilized"
Trince Maximilian said ne hoped soon
10 announce results of preliminary nego-
tiations to obtain. legal extension Of the
chancellor's responsibility, TO be secured
| by the formation of n state tribunal
"The new system, he said involves
as natural consequences. a new code of
government in Alsace- Lorraine
The chancellor declared II waa the
aim Of himself and his colleagues to
establish the political authority of the
German people After saving he vel
coined expressions of opinion and that
he and his colleagues were agreed as 10
| HitiHbtlS uii IltIlAfstEt fft UtlIsti
"Our aim is the political authority of
the German people Tins Is tho guiding
star Of nv collaboratofs and myself
The chancellor snid individual mem
bers Of tho government nt first had DIFF
fereut standpoints hut now had been
brought nearer together.
The German people has long been
IN saddle, he snld Now IL Is to ride :
"Onr first and last thought, the
| chancellor continued, rs for the brave
men who are defending themselves against
superior forces and whom We must dc
fcnd against unjust charges M one
must think he can attack our army with
ont also attacking the honor Of our peo-
pie
The lot of onr soldiers today - ter
rihy hard They fight with anxiety for
the homeland aud with Their minds fixed
on peace, and they hold their ground
The extraordinary war tune mcastlres.
the chancellor explained, could not yet
be dispensed with, but thcy could be
| carried out only bs the chancellor who
would be responsible to the Rclchstag
for their application.
His maIcstys dcerecs which ! an
nounced recently now have been Is
ucd. he went on .'rhcv concern not
only the censorship. the right of public
meeting and restrictions on personal
liberty, but have to do with economic.
social and political matters.
IF local military commanders disagree
with the civil authorities the decision
must be reached immediately bv the
highest commander, who Will not be able
to promulgate any decision to which
agreement IS not given by myself or my
representative, namely, Secretary of state
Groeber Care viii be taken that the
state Of siege Is maintained IN The spirit in
which | assumed the functions of the
government and in which | am resolved
TO discharge them.
''We trust and thank them We cry
TO them: The homeland will not abandon
YOU. What YOU want, what It can give
in men, material and food, that You
shall have. =
Announcement was made by the
Chancellor Of DILL making the Reich
stag responsible for war and peace. the
measure to become effective wnen the
project for league OF nations should
; become operative
RE1CHsTAG Peoples CONGRESS
Speaking of the powers to be vested
| IN the Reichstag under the terms of tht
new measure, the chancellor SAID tht
bill provided for compulsory imbodiment
from the constitution OF the funda
mentals for the new government HC
said the effect would be to make the Reich
stag the peoples house of representatives
which should be responsible IN the dc
clsion OF the most important question To-
the nation, namely, OF peace and war.
THAT means peaceful development q
the empire and its relations with othe
powers, he continued In such al
extension of the peoples rights the Inn
perial government Is willing to lend +;
hand when q league of nations has takeI
. practical form When such league put
an end to all secret separate treaties
am confident all agreements can be ampli
fed in this sense.
EvERYT HING NOW CHANGED.
The chancellor SAID the German ma
: ton long had possessed political right
7 ! which its neighbors envied. He spoke II
t ! praise of the municipal and Reichsta
elections and said that although the Ger
man people had not made use Of II
power in dealing with yftal questions. tn
r development which had oce urred at tn
e end of September had changed every
k thing
. Therein lines the guarantee of tn
( continuance and growth of the new sys
0 tenn he added This is better an,
e more real guarantee than any law o
D paragraph.
s The German DeopIe he declared mus