Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-10-31
FREEDOM BY ROYAL GIFT

FREEDOM BY ROYAL GIFT
In the extension of the German peoples rights, says
Macmillan of Baden, the government lis willing to lend
a hand, when the League of Nations has taken a practi-
cal form" If the Germans really want a popular gov
eminent they can hardly be satisfied with a promise so
conditional. They have had promises from the Hohen-
,zellerns before; they might have been reminded of some
of these by the remark of the Frankfurter Zeitung,
which speaks of the movement for popularizing the
government after the example of 1913"
What was the example of 1878? The Prussian peo-
pie were rising to drive out Napoleon, and forcing their
tory k =g to go with them. Great administrative and
social reforms had been accomplished in the years of hui
initiation since Jena: but political liberty was as far away
as ever. The German national awakening was liberal as
we'll as patriotic; the Germans wanted to get rid of Ma
poleon, and they wanted a share in their own govern
ment.
A few weeks before Waterloo Frederick William III,
king of Prussia, definitely promised a constitution. But
when Waterloo was won, when a weary Europe began to
turn back into the ways of peace and kings were safer on
their thrones, this promise was forgotten; and the. fact
that the people wanted it was only the more reason, 1t
appeared. for refusing to give it to them. The king who
had been aggrandized by the patriotism Of his people had
refused to give them what he had promised in time of
need. .
A generation later revolution swept over Europe.
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after a little bloodshed to the demand for a liberal consti-
tuition; he paraded the streets. of Berlin at the head of
a mob, and scandalized his great and good friend. the
car OF Russia, by,writing to him in praise of 1.-THE glo-
rious German revolution" The king of Prussia might
have become German emperor, but when the represent
atives OF the German people offered him the title he told
them ne would not stoop to pick up a crown from the
gutter; 1t would have to come from his fellow princes,
The fellow princes thought otherwise; reaction, spread
through Germany; and when eventually Frederick Will
liam promulgated a Prussian constitution it was a sub
terfuge which left all the power with the king and the
Junkera.
But liberalism was then so strong that even under
this constitution popular sentiment was able to control
the parliament. In the early sixties, when Bismarck and
Room were preparing the army which was to make Prus-
STA the ruler of Germany and Germany the strongest pow.
er in Europe, the Liberals and anti miitarists in the
Prussian diet refused to vote the money for the increase
OF military forces. So Bismarck and King William, aft
erward Emperor William L, disregarded the constitution,
and ruled without it until their military victories had
convinced the Prussian people that autocracy was profit
able. . ~
OF the f~alse-front constitution of the German en-
pire, by which Bismarck covered autocracy with the pre-
tense OF popular government. we know enough. But the
emotional William II. has not always respected even it's
pious pretense. In 1908 his interview in the London Tel
egraph. the>culmination Of a series of indiscretions, made
it clear that he regarded himself as qualified to conduct
the policies of the government without regard to the
views Of his subjects. This was too much, at that time,
for the Conservatives; their party organization Joined
with the sovereigns Of the lesser states in a demand for
more reticence on the part of the All-Highest. The
lchancellori formally promised that the kaiser would be
constitutional; the kaiser was graciously pleased to ap-
prove this declaration; and "a Berlin paper solemnly de-
fclared that this assurance marked "a fresh epoch of
German imperial history "
The epoch lasted less than two years; in August OF
1910 the kaiser made his famous Konigsbere speech. in
which he declared that his crown was worn by Gods
grace alone. and that. considering himself the instru.
ment Of his Master, he went his way, careless Of passing
views and opinions. There was another popular protes,
lat this. but not SO loud; as in the days OF conquest fifty
years before. the people were beginning to be won over
TO the idea that autoeracy was profitable. III
Is It any wonder that the president observer In his
latest note that ,"it does not appear : that ans
guarantees exist or are in contemplation that the; altera.
lions Of principle and Of practice now partially agreed
Upon wiilsbe pernanents" The only wonder II that the
lGernan people. if they are : mIsled racs striving fol
@fresdosa. DO not insist q these suarantsss is thor owIr
interest-New FORK Times ss.s
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