American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1918-11-01
CHAPTER VI.


ifchlng Tor var luffe was q lctllus
among the m|ilitarists that while it
was all right for the kaiser 70 assume
the role Of the prince Of Peace dur
ing the period Of preparation. it was
possible TO everyday the part. He so
frequently referred 10 the fact that
his sole purpose in maintaining q large
army and navy was 70 maintain peace
that the war lords Of Germany began
70 fear that perhaps he might mean IT,
The murder Of the Archduke Franz
Ferdinand. the successor 70 the Aus
trian throne. and lis wife by a Ser
bian on June %. 1914, gave Germany
The excuse for which she had been
waiting so long 70 start a European
c~onaaeration and found Austria as
anxious for war as her ally.
But even had Emperor Franz Joseph
shown reluctance 20 plunge his nation
into war and had Austria refused 10
chastiSe Serbia for the murder u the
Archduke l doubt very much whether
the kaiser would have allowed that
event 10 have gone u~navenged.
II touched him in one Of his mos
vulnerable spots. The sancrity Of roy
atty is one Of his most cherished idea>.
He felt sponsor for the mOnarchies
Of the world. as we feel sponsor for
the democracies. A thrust at a throne
was a stab at the kaiser's heart, and
with or without the cooperation OF
Austria I firmly believe he would have
gone 10 any lengths 10 have avenged
the crime Of Sarajevo.
Il is true that the kaiser sent a
message 20 the car Of Russia in
which he pointed out that Austria
ought TO be allowed 10 chastise Serbia
without interference from the other
European powers. remarking. I'VE
princes must hold together" but there
can be no doubt that that was very
far from the outcome dearest 10 his
heart. If, indeed. the punishment OF
Serbia had been accomplished with
out war the kaiser would have been a
most disappointed man. and it Russia
had failed to mobilize her troops
which gave Germany a pretext fol
crossing the Russian border, I haven't
the slightest doubt that Germany
would have prodded Russia into war
anyway knowing that France would
follow. Der Tag" (the day. had
come for which Germany had beer
planning and plotting. and nothing OF
earth could now interfere with the ex
ecution Of the program.
How firmly the kaiser was welded
TO the dynastic idea and how deeply
he abhorred the spirit Of democrac!
was revealed throughout the whole
course OF his life, and in his converse
lions with me he frequently gave ex
preston TO views which disclosed how
thoroughly he believed in the "divini
right Of kings"
I saw him shortly after wilson,
election in 1912.
"Nhat will America ever accomplish
, with a professor ar its head:' b
asked. s~neeringly. Davis. your coun
: try will be truly great until
, becomes a monarchy -
On another occasion he sneered a
conditions in England.
! Look at England today" he re
, marked. "She is ruled hy Lloy.
George. a socialist, Why. England I
p virtually a republic. as bad as France
What's become of the king of Ems
: land? one never hears Of him an
more. Why doesn't he assert hin
. self?" The tone Of disgust with whic
he gave vent 10 these sentiments Wa
D more significant. perhaps, than II
words used might imply.
Your president is trying TO owe,
throw me and my family from h
. throne Of Germany by his notes" h
r commented bitterly. when I saw hi
v shortly after the publication Of Il
: presidents reply 10 the pope, but !
Y little understands how loyal are n
people and now futile his efforts wi
prove. They held meetings recent
all over the empire. in every city ar
n village. and showed their ~allegianl
TO me in no uncertain way. and yol
president received the answer fro
T. my people that he deserved" I wO
II dered whether the kaiser vas unawa
ID Of the fact that all these meetin.
IL uuu bct1 luSNlLtu ~ lAt ENfN4AAAt
and their useful agent, the press,
II whether he was once again makil
ID use Of his histrionic ability.
ie Although Germany is regarded
Ia the cradle Of socialism, 10 the kais
If it was a cancer which was slowly e
rs ing away the foundations Of his el
IL pire and he viewed its progress wi
the direst misgivings.
ne Before the war he s~teadfastly
fused To receive a deputation Of 5
cialists and once gave an au'
N ence To the leaders of the social
nj party in the reichstag, although Z
b. heads Of committees Of all he 9th
s. political parties were at times
ceived In conference.
While the reichstag was little mo