Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-11-22
Democracy Marching On
Brooklyn Eagle (Dem.)


poleon III capitulated to the German emperor
neither of them foresaw, that the French repub-
lie would be the result. Neither toresaw that
that republic would fight another battle OF
Sedan in 1918 and that German republic would
follow. An historian says that Sedan gave the
final blow to the French empire" So will some
future historian write that Sedan also gave the
final blow to the German empire"
The trumphal march of democracy IN TINS
last half century began in September, 1870, with
the fall of "Bonaparte the Little" Napoleon
III. Since that day five other emperors have
given way to republics, or are fast on the road
to become republics-Dom Pedro of Brazil the
emperor of China, the car of all the Russias,
the German kaiser and the Austrian kaiser. And,
added to this list, should be the king of Portu-
gal, though he was parliamentary ruler.
1t was bright day for popular government
when Napoleon III gave up his sword, on Sep
TENDER 2 1870, to William l. the king of Prussia,
who became the emperor of Germany. 1t was
a dark day for the empire when Bismarck and
Won Moltke together agreed to exact from
France four billions of francs, together with
Alsace and Lorraine, because, as Bismarck said,
they must have good strategical line"
Napoleon was sent to the Castle of Will
helmshohe, near Cassel, and the French repub-
lie was proclaimed at the Hotel de Vile, in
Paris, September 4, the same day that the En-
press Eugene fled to England with her son,
where, in March, 1871, they were joined by Ma
poleon, who died two years later
One of the terms exacted by the Germans of
those days was triumphal entry into Paris or
the occupation of French town. They
marched to Paris, but the republic fought
against them. and the wonderful siege of Paris
ensued, with the result which was to be expected
in a battle between such forces. Love of France
and of Paris, without organization or equip
ment with little food, could not prevail against
an army with munitions, organization and plenty
OF food. But it was not a "triumphal" entry,
and the Germans were glad to retire from the
city. The "bolsheviki" of that time, calling
themselves the Commune, sought to do what
their kind have been doing in Russia on larger
scale, but they were subdued, and the republic
of France has since been working out its saliva
ton. How splendidy it has succeeded the
story OF the great war manifests.
The world was astonished on November IS,
1889. to hear of revolution in the Portuguese
empire of Brazil Dom Pedro II had given en-
He lived unostentatiously and gave himself to
the economic development of his people and
country. He was highly educated and fostered
the spread of education. But Benjamin Con-
slant, who had been a professor in the military
college, began preaching socialism in 1880, and
it had taken deep root among the educated
classes, including the men in the army, whom
he had taught. This resulted in a military con-
spiracy in 1889, by which the emperor was re-
placed by republican form of government
That was on November IS, and in the night of
the following day Dom Pedro and his family
were taken on board government cruiser and
they went to Lisbon, where the empress died
shortly atterWard of broken heart Dom Pedro
following her December S, 1891. There was no
N he uo1 and Cd
eminent.
Twenty-one years later, in 1910, the desire
for .self-government spread to Portugal, as
might have been expected, and on October S,
1910, republic was proclaimed at Lisbon. Man
uel II and his family escaped to Gibraltar and
thence to England. Manuel succeeded to the
throne when his father and his elder brother
were assasSinated and it was to have been ex-
pected that he, too, would have to CO.
Nothing in history, probably, took the world
by surprise so much as when on February II,
1912, it was learned that republc' had been
declared in China, the oldest of moRarchies and
country which, according to western ideas,
was hundreds of years in the rear of the march
of progress The imperial family, of Manchu
origin, dated from 1914 and was styled the
Great Pure Dynasty" The last emperor,
Pu-yi, who was born February II, 1906, was the
tenth of the line and succeeded his uncle,
Kuang- Hsu, on November H. 1908, with re-
gent Every reader is acquainted with the
Boxer rebellion and with the internal turmoil
that has succeeded with every change of gov
eminent in that wonderful country Under the
new and better international ethics the Chinese
will probably be left to work out for themselves
their political SALVATION and as they are wise
people. those who know them we'll believe they
will succeed.
The great war, which was begun by the Ger
mans in July, 1914 will have proved itself to be
and the German people are wise. Crowns and
thrones may perish, Kingdoms rise and fall" but
the march of democracy is going on. The
Russian car Nicholas II (what is the fatality
about the second of a name? Dom Pedro II,
Manuel H. Nicholas II and Wilhelm I'D was
forced to abdicate on March IS, 1917, ending
the Romanoff dynasty. 1t was the most tragic
ending OF any of the careers of the emperors
Nicholas himself was kindly, well-disposed
man, wishing the welfare of his people. but un-
able to divest himself of the German influence
at his court and through his nation That in
fuence bred revolution; it sapped the strength
OF his armies, it undermined his power and his
prestige 1t was everywhere and defeated the
purposes of the Russian generals. Had the
Russians been organized as were the Germans
Berlin would have fallen into their hands in the
year 1915, and millions of lives would have been
saved
But of Wilhelm II, king of Prussia and Ger
man emperor, whose ambition led him to de-
clare war for the extension of his dominions,
who blasphemously declared his partnership
with "Gott" who is held to be responsible for
the great war-what of him? This proud en-
peror abdicated November 9, last, after he had
wrought such ruin in the world, including his
own country, as had never before been known,
and at night escaped from Germany into Hol-
land accompanied by his eldest son and heir.
1t is his purpose to live. 1t is said to be his
expectation to be recalled to settle the troubles
of Germany.
?, No one can blame Emperor Karl of Austria