Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-10-07
rBv Associated Press.1

the RcichstaE yesterday, follows:
cree Of September 3d. the German EN-
pire has undergone i basic alteration
OF Its political leadership. AS success
whose services in behalf of the Father |
land deserve the highest acknowledge-
Emperor TO lead the new government.
In accordance with the govern
mental method nov introduced. sub,
without delay. the principles upon
which ] propose TO conduct1the grave
responsibilities of the Office.
lished by the agreement of the feder-
ated governments and the leaders Of
the majority parties in this honorable
duties of Chancellor They contain
therefore. not only my own confession
Of o, p political y, faith, but that Of an over
pies representatives, that is of the
German nation which has constituted
eral. equal and secret franchise and
according to their will. Only the fact
that l know the. conviction and will of
of me has given me strength to take
upon. myself the conduct of the en-
press affairs in this hard and earnest
time In which we are living.
One mans shoulders would be too
wsaa 10 ,iarry hiohe the tremendous
people take active part in the broad
east sense of the word, in deciding
sponsibility also extends to the ma
1ority of their freely elected political
leaders, can the Leading Statesman
confidently assume his part of the re-
sponsibility In the service of Folk and
Fatherland.
"My resolve to do this has been cs-
peeially lightened for me by the fact
that$prominent leaders of the laborlng
class have found way in the new
empire, /
antee that the new government will
PC supported bJ- the firm confidence of
taking would be condemned to failure
in advance. Hence. what ! say today
Of my official helpers but in the name
or the German people.
,,os The hep program srI o, the majority par
tlcs upon which l take my stand con-
sains' nrst an acceptance OF the an
s s. Of The former imperial govern
gust !. 1916, and AN unconditional ac-
ceptance OF the Reichstag resolution
OF ,ui fnr ~ the san same year
Join n general league OF nations based
on the foundation of equal rights for
all: both tn, strong and , weak.
belgian question to lie in the COM
pieto rehabilitation (Wiederherst elling)
OF sergium, particularly. of it's indie
effort shall also be made to reach an
understanding on the question OF in
dcmnity.
The program will not permit, the
peace, treaties hitherto concluded to
be hindrancc To the conclusion or a
general peace.
PARTICULAR AIN Is no
PROVIDE CIVILIAN RULE
Its particular aim is that popular
fieppsSdfintative bodies shall be formed
BaIte prevne S IN DrGfn basis in the
iand We VIII promote the rcaIiZa-
ION OF necessary. preliminary condi-
Introduction of civilian rule All these
lahds snail regulate their constitutions
ana their relations with neighborinG
In The matter of international poll
Clcs' nave taken clear stand through
nc ,,, manner in which the formation of
inc government was brought about
mon my motion. leaders of tho ma
Jor,tS parties We're summoned for di-
n rT't a" ~ in IL was my conviction that
assured not only through mere chs
mate party allegiance by the different
members oil the governments CON
sidered almost still more i,nportant tho
unity OF ideas. ''e
proceeded from this viewpoint.
and have. in making my selections
laid greatest weight on the FACT thnt
the members of the new imperial rov
ennment stand on basis of a just
situation, and that they have oneniv
declared this TO be their standpoint at
inc TIME when we stood at the height
Oh our military successes
II am convinced that the manner I'm
which imperial leadership is now con
S,uuted. with cooperation of the
heichStaG, Is not something cphclncral
and that when peace comes = GOV
eminent cannot again be formed which
does not iind support in the Reich
stag and does not draw its lenders
there from. 'e"e'"
The war has conducted us beyond
Inc Inc oid multifarious and disrupted
put into execution Il uniform and de-
cisive political wish. The formation
OF a majority means. the formation of
a political will. and an indisputabIc
result Of the war has been that in
Germany Tor the first time great par.
t i, SHAVE haxe joined together in firm,
:%me into position TO determine for
themselves the fate OF the people.
d., nhis thought will never die. This
(appiausel and I trust that so long
as Germany's fate is ringcd about By
eahsers, those sections OF the people
representatives do not belong TO the
government will put aside all that
sSe .n;, ate, us and viii give the father
ianI what is the fathcrland's
This development nccessitates an
hiieratlon OF our constitutions pro-
T Visions along the lines Of the impcral
make II possible to those members of
=, i.",,cI!l VIII retain thelr seats in the
KclchStag. bill TO this end has
been submitted TO the federal states,
and Will Immediately be made the
object or their consideration and de-
Sls'oi. Let us remember words spok Ell
ny thc Emperor on August g. 1914
watch permitted myself to para
phrase last December at karlsruhe
there are in fact. parties but they
are all German parties
POLITICAL DEVELOPMENTS
MUST BE FULFILLED
foiitical Developments in Prussia,
inc principal Fcrman federal statee,
must proceed IN the spirit of these
words Of the Emperor and the message
Of nc King Of Prussia promising the
deinoCratic franchise must he fulfilled
quickly ana completely. l do not doubt
also that those federal states which
sun las behind ia the development
OF thor constitutional conditions will
fcHointciN follow Prussia'S example.
tor the present. as the example OF
All bel!gercnt states demonstrates the
extraordinary powers which Il condi-
ton or sirge compcls cannot be dis
penscd with but close relations be
tween the military and civilian au-
iiOriilC. hr hlgsh.I which