New-York tribune., 1918-03-10

the steps by which divine right il
Germany came to be the accepted order
He traces the slow rebellion of thinkers
like Kant, whose scientific investigation
has at length begun TO open the eyes of
the people. The article, in part, follows,
"Junkerism gathered the economic and po-
htical power of Germany into its hands dur
ing the Reformation. and employed the ma
cninery of the Lutheran churches to control
the common people. Theological professors
and clergymen were appointed by the Junker
authorities, while the people were forced to
attend church and listen to what the clergy
had to say. A huge body Of Biblical inter-
probation was constructed which buttressed
the rule of the nobility German philosopnv
also. until far into the modern period. was
merely an elaborate attempt TO explain eccle-
siastcal dogmas
nus 1t appears that Junkcrsm not only
stands for political and economic rule but
tnat 1T also represents religious tyranny.
Ihe halsers sanctimonious claim OF partner
ship with the Almighty is no new thing.
I church and state have been identified in Ger
many for centuries; and the Emperor has in
/ heflted, among other implements of his office,
an ecclesiastical steam roller which is used
LOT crushlng professors and preachers who
exhibit undue tendencies toward freedom of
thought. The philosopher Kant, who signal
lzcd the break with Junker theology. felt the
weight Of this instrument. while more re-
Gently 1t has been employed for the purpose
OF suppresslng that mysterious and unique
manifestation of German radical genius called
higher Criticism. A Prussian heresy
law went into effect just before the present
war under which number of clergymcn were
1orclbly driven from their pulpits; and the
rise OF liberal church movement in Ger
many has been temporarily stopped only by
the distractions of the war itself
THE story is quite simple:
In early times the peasants of Germany
enjoyed the right 10 pasture their cattle on
'he waste lands, to cut wood in the forests
ana to hsh III the streams But in the
hfteenth century these rights were gradually
"lthdrawn The old tribal common lands
were 1nclosed and became the property of the
German aristocracy. Along with the monop-
ollzatlon of the soil there went a widespread
rise IN prices which affected not only the lux
urles of the rich, but the commonest articles
of household necessitv All Euronc seethed
and rocked with the social problem and there
was tremendous antagonism between the
upper and lower classes when the curtain
rose on the stage Of modern history.
Then, as now. Germany was at the centre
Ct the storm. The peasantry had been rest
less for generations, breaking ont here and
there IN frequent revolts characterized bv de-
mands for ancient rights of access to the
bounties OF nature These uprisings passed
INTO general instruction which is called the
Peasants War. The common people went
about IN armed bands, did the French peas
antFy at a later date The Junkers rallied,
however, and put down the vast rebellion by
military force More than one hundred thou-
sand of the revolutionists were slaughtered
and the uprising was crushed out in blood
The aristocracy was everywhere victorious.