The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1918-12-26
CHAPTER XIV.
The German People.

The oath of allegiance which every
German soldier and public official
takes binds him first to support the
kaiser, with his life and his money,
and then the fatherland.
That is what the kaiser referred to
when he said, In the course OF an adj
dress to a body of recruits at PoEs-
dam:
"Body and soul you belong to me-
If 1 command you TO shoot your fd-
theirs and your mothers you
must follow my command without a
murmur."
The same thought is involved, OF
course, in the kaiser's invariable use
of the possessive pronoun, first person,
In talking of the German people. He
always says ''my people" never ''the
people," The worst feature about it
is that not only does the kaiser pro-
coed upon the assumption that he owns
the German people body and SOUL
but the people themselves are willing
to admit it. The Germans are the most
willing vassals in the world.
Veneration and awe of the kaiser are
bred in the bone of the Germans. Even
among the socialists, who are not near
| ~ as opposed to the mOnarchiaI idea
as is commonly supposed. there is
strong sentiment of loyalty toward the
emperor. True, the socialists are
clamoring constantly for the reform
vote and other political changes, but
doubt very much whether-before the
war, at any rate-any large percentage
| Of inIs tots
pOrtunity to dethrone the kaiser had
it presented itself. Certainly any such
attempt would have been speedily
smothered by those who remained
loyal, even without the aid of the
military.
As long as the kaiser is able to up
hold Germany's place among the ma
tons of the world, so long will his
people uphold him. They will stand
behind him as long as he goes forward
they will repudiate him as soon as he
turns back. They will acclaim him in
triumph, but will not tolerate him in
defeat. The kaiser himself realizes
that his tenure of Office rests upon
victory. The war was started for the
sake OF world dominion; it has been
continued solely to save the kaiser's
throne.
Coming into such intimate and fire.
quent contact with the kaiser, I had a
wonderful opportunity to observe the
relations which existed between him
and his people.
The condhct of the people since the
war affords no safe criterion of Their
normal views aad sentiments. The
act gity OF government agents and the
power OF the inspired press exerte6
s1Ich a great influence on the feeling.
Of the people that any outward signs
of enthusiasm which they displayed
!, must be literally discounted. Tbs
demonstrations in favor of the kaisel
and his leaders since the war hav,
been more or less artificial, the crowC
being worked up by government agent
and the press accounts have invariabl1
magnifed them. Before the war, how
ever, whatever acclaim the kaiser re
: ceived from the public came sponta
) Deously, and was for that reason O
: greater significance.
know that whenever the kaise
called at my Office great crowds gath
cred outside to catch glimpse of hin
{ when he came out. They waited pa
5 tiently, sometimes for as long as a
e hour, for the sake OF greeting thei
2 emperor. Their conduct on these OF
2 casions showed 1ery plainly that b
!. had a strong hold on their affection: