Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-02-22
And Difficulties
Of Parliament in Ger111aflu

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member of the Left into the ranks OF
Democrats, Progressives, National
Liberals. the Center. Polish constitu-
ents, and even some elements OF the
people, Of the small farm
er, the Christian proletariaf, ana In
dependent elements Of the Right.
ditional weakness of all great coali-
lions. When the elements are too
dissimilar coalitions are in constant
danger Of going to pieces. In such
cases only strenuous emphasis upon
the idea which forms the common
bond Of all car hold them together.
1t is we'll known that in France
Italy (Zanardelli-Giolitt period) the
attempt was made to rule with a
radical-socialistic block. Experience
showed that the fundamental differ
ences which edst eve between the
most advanced popular Democrats
and the most moderate Socialists In
problems endangered the capacity Of
any such block of the Left to contin.
ue in power.
But the German case is not even to
be confined within these lines. Il
German democracy Is to have any
prospect of success at all 1t Is ab0o.
1AkC4y III llcOu VI III 0A0A4lCllIo A60AA0S
which the block of the Left directed
its policies in: France, and to a cer-
tain degree in Italy also-the Catho-
lie. or clerical elements. The Center.
although by no e free from arts.
tocratic influences Undoubtedly rep
resents the preponderating SUPPORT OF
South German democracy. It is no
berger of the Center Democrats ana
line them up with the Kultur- kampf
F~ree-thought Democrats of the Mil
ler-Meinigen stamp.
When we turn to the National Lab
erals, we find conditions even worse.
To be sure the advocates OF e demo-
cratic Observation-Disclosures it
doesn't go too far-predominate in
the National Liberal section Of the
reichstag, in spite Of the tremendous
influence of big business. But inn
perialism and the thirst for annexa-
ton is stronger in the National Lib
eral' party and section than the de-
On this account, as is well known.
the National Liberals split of from
the %reichstag majority in he 80
called peace fight"
The progress of h vanguard Of
the reichstag majority, OF social
Democracy: has been badly crippled
by this schism, which the war ana
its consequences Jas wrought in their
ranks. The splitting of OF the Sec
ton Of independents is not The only
result of this. Inside the majority
section a steady fight goes on. quiet
ly but for that reason no less violent
ly, between the Social Patriots"
cial l~nlperialists, who are very much
in love, with the idea Of possible "ai-
liances."
Even the Peoples Progressive par
ty has the poison in its veins. the
Heckscher n Traubians, whose
frenzy for annexation grows after the
fashion of a Reventlow. oppose the
sincere enemies of annexation. tho
Gothcians and Quiddeists.
Among all these occasions Of the
reichstag majority's inner weakness
still another can now be found: The
character of the constitution of the
empire Is that of a federated state.
reactionaries hide their hate for de-
mocracy behind a pretext Of solicit
tude about the federative character
of the empire. On this account,
however, there is no lessening in the
antithesis between the Socialists who
are centralistic OF principle and the
Catholic Democrats who upon prin-
ciple also are federative. Like the
Catholic Democrats of Switzerland.
so the Catholic Democrats Of Ger
many oppose increased Capitalization.
enthusiastically a minority by rea-
son Of their religion. The organ Of
federalism in Germany is the Bum
desrat. The tactics of the conserva-
tives have been to represent parlia-
mentarization Of the imperial govern
ment as a strengthening of the reich
stag at the expense Of the Bundesrat;
in other words, as a weakening Of
federative elements in favor Of CEN
t%ralization. Unquestionably these
tactics have met with success even in
the democratic wing Of the Center.
The Center refuses to consent to full
parliamentarization and declares its
satisfaction with a kind OF joint o
eminent, to include the reichstag.
Just at present they are seeking a
form in which this Partnership is to
be cast. The much-discussec COM
mission of seven is the first expert
ment. Students Of German political
history will be disagreeably reminded
Of the cropping experimentation at the
time of the late Emperor Macmillan
1. when a separation of the imperial
administration between the emperor
and the estates of the empire was
sought after.
Let me sum up: The difficulties OPP
posing a parliamentari1ation of the
German imperial government are
great: the chances that these Difficult
ties will be overcome, unless outside
events hasten the process, are limit.
ed. not to say slight. =
In no case can the characterization
CT Germany be counted as a sure fac
tor in political reckoning.