Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1918-11-19
After War Political Conditions.

This is one Of the biggest subjects
there is just now. and The Enquirer
has no purpose TO attempt an exhaus-
tive discussion Of it in this article.
II is merely our purpose TO throw
little light on conditions, social and
political, as they exist in several Of the
recently warning countries, more espe-
cially Germany, England and France,
and incidentally in the United States.
We have been hearing more from
the Bolshevikism of Russia, of late,
than from any other political condi-
ton elsewhere. and from the constant
intimations of the fear In other coun-
tries that Bolshevikism may spread to
them also. we are naturally led TO in
auire what there Is in this ism" that
should be the source of so much dread.
OF course it is practicable to touch
on Russia in a very general way. The2 d,
is not reader Of The Enquirer how
ever who does not remember the time
when the very name Of Russia was
synonym of despotism that suggested
the knout for any poor creature who
offered the slightest disobedience to
masters of the nobility. and Siberia to
all who were known to even want to
improve conditions in the direction Of
popular liberty. There is very little
education among the Russian masses.
and not as much as there ought to be
among the upper classes: but the fault
their fellows only as servants and who
would not tolerate the development Of
intellects that would eventually make
their poor and ignorant possesso free.
1t is not difficult to see how the over
throw Of the despotism of the czar
should have soon been followed by the
overthrow Of the moderate successors
of that despotism, and that the gov
ernment should have fallen into the
hands Of a class that looked upon all
Of their superior only as tyrannous op-
pressors unworthy to live. That Is why
we are hearing of the murder Of no
bles. of officers, of people of wealth,
and the conflscation OF their property.
That these poor ignorant people, led
by brutal fanatics, are making terri
BILE blunder il Is easy to see; but at the
same time II Is not difficult to under
stand why things are as they are, and
that the upper classes are only reaping
the natural consequences Of their fail
ure in the responsibility to their fellow
men at time when II was theirs to
shape things differently.
Germany Is by no means Russia,
md tbara iS no nrObnhility that She
will ever be. There is more general ed
ucation in Germany than there Is in
any country in the world. Every indi-
vidual in Germany has been educated
up TO his fullest capacity, and more
or less common idea In this country to
the contrary. every individual has been
free to think as he might choose. The
one great flaw in German civili-
zation has been the inability to get rid
OF a military despotism by which it has
been dominated from times prehis-
toric.
The ruling class in Germany has
been the military class. Though nomi-
nally subject to the law this class has
been actually subject only to its own
will The reichstag, the parliament Of
the empire, has been allowed to play
at self lf-government so long as Its meas
ures did not interfere with the powers
of the military despotism: but when
ever that came to an issue, there came
into play sufficient arbitrary force to
decide the issue against the people. AL
though the fact has not been empha-
sized, we do not hesitate to say that In
our Judgment this terrible world war
is attributable more than anything else
to the effort of German militarism to
retain it's autocratic ascendancy over
the German people. BY that we mean
that Germany. having reached the
point where absolute freedom OF the
ballot could no longer be withheld, the
militarists with the kaiser at their
head, plunged the world in war as the
only possible hope Of perpetuating the
autocratic power.
According to the best information
obtainable at this time, the only re-
naming members Of the old govern
ment are Maximilian, the former chan
cellor. and DR.. Solf, secretary Of for
eign affairs. There is little reason to
suppose that either Of them Is much
more than a figurehead. AS regent"
MaXimilian is still able to speak for
the government abandoned by the kali
ser. in case of necessity. and Solf. as
foreign secretary. can act as mouth
piece Of the actual government in COM
with foreign governments.
But II is the Socialists who are in
the Socialists with Ebert the
at their head. The
great middle class or bourgeois. are
In the reichstag by what is
known as the Catholic Centre; but
the Catholic Centre is not represented
in the governing cabinet. Although the
radical or Bolsheviki element,
the element that would confscate the
Of the nobility and Of the
wealthy. and II need be institute a |
reign of terror. Is represented in the
cabinet, II is not understood |
to be in the majority. Ebert, who
stands for moderation. for a just gov
that recognizes the usefulness
Of both employer and employe on |
basis Of joint relations, and who also