The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1918-01-24
IMPERIAL GERMAN GOVT.
~ TALCOTT AILLIAhS

Grosth and Poser Of Teuton Auto
cracy ia DeGned by journalism
Dean.
Talcott Williama, director Of tht
scbool Of Journalism on the Pulitzer
foundation III Columbia University, at
the annual meeting Of the Vermont
Press Association in M!ddlcbury last
Friday evening, said in part.
The people Of the United States
through their Congress and president
declared war against the imperial
German government Not against the
people Of Germany not against Ger
many not against sovereign or na-
ton, but against the imperial German
government
"What is the imperial German gov
ernment? Ii In not rooted in obscure
antiquity. 1t was made in the open
hight Of our own day. The German
people wanted German union; they
wanted German independence; they
wanted German security They fought
for all three in 1870 and 1871 They
won all three. but they did not make
the imperial German government 1t
was made for them by % kings, prime
es, grand dukes and dukes. They pro-
claimed the German empire at Yer
Nailles in 1871. They made the king
of Prussia the German emperor.
These % men, rulers all by divine
right, and their ministers, appointed
by them, drew the constitution which
created the imperial German govern
ment.'
Government by Soycreigns
"0ur federal constitution was
drawn by representatives of the
people. 1t was ratified by their vote.
This constitution created q govern
mcnt Of the people, by the people, for
the people. The German constitution
created a government Of sovereigns,
by sovereigns, for sovereigns. These
men believe, claim and act as rulers
by divine right and not responsible toI
the people ruled. Three free cities
were included. They had no power.
This German constitution gave next to
no power TO the popular legislative
chamber the Rcichstag. 1t is debat'
ing club. 1t talks every day. What
has come Of il in this war? The
Reichstag cannot change the consti-
tuition; it cannot control the kaiser;
il cannot decide the choice Of minis
sers.
"The German constitution put the
ultimate, active, effective power TO
rule Germany in the hands of thC |
kaiser, and the upper chamber, the
Bundesrath. The upper chamber is
not chosen by the people. 1t is choser
by the governments appointed by these
% men ruling by divine right and &C
ccpting no other title. II Is made ur
of the Representatives Of soyereigns
They control ii. No one can change
its powers but these German sover-
eigns.
"The kaiser alone can block all
ahange in this imperial German gov
ernment, its constitution and tho
Peace and war, armyl
and navy, tariff and taxation, rail
roads and canals, commerce and coll
onies, internal and external; mails
and telegraphs, industrial insurance
Tor death sickness and accident, treat
es and foreign afrairs-all that go TO
make national life, these sovereignsl
control through the Bundesrath, which
s the central governing force Of the
German empire, and Of this council
he German kaiser has chief control. ,
To Perpetuate Autoeracy
"Such constitution organized to
'rcate autocracy and to make auto
racy perpetual is contrary to the {
principles of democracy, and it is at !
var with the moral law. II Is impious I
nd inhuman for exactly the same rea- ,
on that slavery was impious and in !
uman. Slavery asserted that certain
uman beings were made TO serve J
thers. the divine right Of kings as
erts that certain human beings were
iade 20 rule others In each case
here is denial Of the fundamental S
ights of humanity. This false prin-
iple once admitted TO the body polite q
hen follows the practices which made c
.avery the sum Of all vileness. 4
"What has shocked the world in the b
AR with the imperial German gov. 8
rnmcnt is the outgrowth Of the the q
~ Of the state which asserts tho S,
ivine right OF one human being 70 q
bic the many. This makes the state j
le sole arbiter of morals and looks o
pom it's commands as Sanctioning Z
very act and justifying every viola h
on Of the rights of humanity and thr
Iws Of God. The only adequate rem ai