The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1918-04-12
THE WORLDS WAR SCRAP HEAP

OF war with 4 Pro -German prODa.
sanda prevailing as strong as the on,
that existed in Russia, and even il
the United States. Nothing but
stable government can cope with
propaganda such as The Toutons hav,
established in most OF the countre.
of the world.
II is altogether evident that gov
eminent OF the people, for the people
by the people must grow out Of PEG.
Pies political experience and may no
be wished on them in a night. Proba-
ply Russia needs TO go to school, tt
develop her own leaders and secure
q vision of q Christian democracy
whose ideal Is not the good OF sci
nor class, but the common good oil
ALL
That new Russia will rise on the
ruins OF the old but that it's progress
will be slow, seems almost certain al
this time. France in and after it's
Revolution wadcd through blood and
tears, and slow indeed was the pro
cess of reconstruction. History
seems to be repeating itself in Rus
STA.
One idea that appears to have been
pretty effectively scrapped by this
war is that the nation that has the
biggest navy can dominate the earth
thereby. That the allied naval forces
50 far outnumbering their foes in this
respect, should be of so little worth
IN the conflict is one of the most s,Ir-
prlslng facts that has come to light
ana ole OF the most striking cyl
dences OF the preparedness of the
Central Powers. Germany has turned
her lack of sea coast and her limited
navy to good advantage. The former
fact makes her immune to danger Nv
the allied fleets, while she has evil
IDENTIFY bottled up her own feet whore
IL cannot be touched, save at a nrice
greater than the entente can afford
TO pay For il reports are correct
the shallow waters about Heligoland
are SO thoroughly mined as to make
not only hazardous, but wel-nigh
rulnous the attempt to reach the peck
OF the bottle. where the Teutonic
naval fleet rides at anchor. Germany
not only forced the fight. but IN ia
the present has determined the
weapons of warfare.
Another idea that has gone TO the
scrap heap is, that it will be an easv
tnlns to create or establish a democ-
racy anywhere, and that the peonlo
OF numerous nations are waiting for
the setting up of our form OF govern
menf. Russia has made it clear how
olIilcuit is the task; the German neo-
PIE nave evidenced q lack of desire
lor democracy by their allegiance IN
their war-lords.
we nave undertaken a large task
IN determining to rid Germany and
the world of William Hohgenzollern
autocrat; and his house as the noli-
ucal dictatOrs of Europe and tho
world. 1t is coming quite clearly to
oe recognized that it is a long. long
lfdll 10 German democracy. There
arc numerous complications. We aro
assured that the kaiser makes M
claim to rule by divine appojntmonf
me elVine right Of kings. for as
uerihah emperor he is constitution
al monarch.
however the king of Prussia, tbis
same Hobenzollern chan. makes
clam to his kingship by divine an
polntment. incidentally the constitu-
tlon of the German empire makes
TINS province, ''The presidency of tho
union belongs to the king of Prussia
VINO hears the title of German en-
peror. So that William II of tha
House of Hobenzollern. is king op
Iuss'a, py divine appointment and
ueiinah emperor by constitutional
somewhat difficult com
oinatlon 10 untangle. 1t is not eaav
TO help him to let go.
me German empire moreover is >
oandY of princes-an association ~
twenty-five states and three fraa
cues, and thus consists OF twenty
hVe members or communities ana
sovereignty resides in the princes oe
several states.
The affair of this obund, arc ii
rected by the "Bundesrath" which is
not legislative body, not q delibera-
i've body, not even an advisory bodt
put an assembly in which the twentV-
nVe German kings, grand dukes
oukes, princes and free cities come
together by proxy to direct the affairs
OF their empire. Each of these no.
tontates send a specified number or
delegates according 10 the provi-
slons OF The constitution, the king Of
russia sending seventeen. the king
OF Bavaria six and the king of SAY
ony Tour, the total membership being
ty-elsht and they vote as in a
democratic National convention, by
the unit rule.
me presiding officer of the Bund-
esfath is the chancellor who is an
pointed and removed at will bv the
kaiser and is therefore the iafter,s
dlrect representative. Now the chan
ceiior has under his supervision tho
iofelgn office, the war and navy de-
paftments and other branches of the
imperial service. The Bundesrath
originates all taxing bills, after this
manner the chancellor prepares the
budget and submits to the Bundles
rath which in turn submits to the
Prusslan reichstag, which latter ms
sesses onT velo power. Constitu-
tlonally the reichstag has the right to
initiate legislation. but seldom
uses it.
me members Of the Bundesrath
are not representative OF the people
cut are the rubber st1mps Of nc rul-
ers who send them. The Bundesratb
controls the German empire, while
the King Of Prussia by the provisions
OF the constitution controls the Bun
Qesrath, since fourteen votes can de-
[eat any proposed amendment. Such