Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-11-26
GERMANY'S STACY REVOLT
TURNING INTO REALITY
Despite Bolshevist Trsppings, a Sweeping
Radical Victory Hopefully Betokens
Bona.fde Democratic Chanees

- the shadowy regency" of Prince Max
Of Baden, the fight of William Hohen-
zollern to hospitable luxury and the tear
full babbling of Doctor Solf is no longer
audible. Whether the German govern
mental overthrow which preceded the
signing Of the armistice was altogether
bogus or merely reluctant and timid is
no longer the foremost question with
which refashioners of the worlds destiny
have to grapple.
For the Teuton revolution has at last
attained crescendo of reality. All sug-
gestion Of Fictitious change has been
swept away by the assent, almost GER
tainly under compulsion, of the Berlin
Government to a set of six significant
terms imposed by the German Soldiers
and Workmen's Council. This body is
now paramount in the former empire.
1t is superior to the cabinet and legisla-
tive bodies pending the establishment of
constitution. What this critical inter-
val will bring forth may perhaps dis
tress sane freemen or it may stimulate
them with an exhibit of the sort Of ra-
tional democracy from which unloosed,
cropping Russia madly averted its gaze.
But some disasters under the sway Of
the Council are unthinkable, chief among
them being any renewed display of the
imperial purple. Red is just now the far
more vivid official hue. Max of Baden
realizes this and he has abdicsted at
last. Doctor Soils ink is dry. Scheide-
mann retires from what must be now
little more than puppet cabinet.
The civilization which defeated Ger
many therefore faces a situation at
which it cannot consistently shake It's
head in alarm. A revolution beyond sus-
picion Of trickery was passionately de-
sired by liberals. That Germany is now
undergoing the first effects of one is now
unmistakably evident.
A few years ago such vast changes
would conceivably have enlisted hearty
Endorsement from orderly, self-governing
communities. Today, however, our
cheers crack at the recollection Of q word
which stands for the defilement of sup
posedly emancipating uprisings. Boil
shevism has become the sinister symbol
of misdirected revolutions. At the
wretched spectacle of Russia the spirit Of
constructive reform stands appalled,.
Justified this repugnance assuredly is.
1t has, however, been lately productive
of habit of emotional generalizing,
which plays havoc with any attempt at
reasoning based on facts. Comprehen-
sion of what is taking place in Germany
may be lamentably clouded unless in
cisive distinction be made between omf-
nous hypnotic verbiage and actual con-
ditions.
The "Reds" dominating the Ebert
regime display unquestionably disquiet.
ing leaning to terminology to which
Russia has given tragic discredit. "Sol
diers and Workmen's Council" has ar
ugly ring and "Soviets" evokes shud
ders when Petrograd and Moscow are
envisaged. But the victors in the great
est of all wars, who now ardently desire
that a peace treaty shall be negotiated
with q rational free Germany, are think
ing primarily of Berlin and other cite!
in highly developed European state
whose analogies with Russia can be ad
vanced only by an unfettered hysterica
imagination. Governmentally, Germany
has been archaic, brutal, blind. Eco
nomically she has been one Of the mos
advanced nations of the world-the exac
antithesis Of her Muscovite neighbor.
Educated, when Russia was in ignor
ance; Bourgeois" in its comfortabl,
sense when Russia was composed o.
capitalistic mobiles and poverty-strickel
Marx and her brilliant Ferdinand Las
sale at sociological investigation whel
Russia was dizzy with half-graspe
theories; highly organized industriall
when Russia viewed her scant manufae
turing in spirit Of perplexity, how ca
Germany be regarded, even under tn
} rule Of "Soviets," as necessarily anothe
! Bolshevik menace? It Is not merel
: hope which argues against raising sue
: q comparison, but facts which cannot /
. ignored even while the red flag wav,
! over Berlin's public buildings and II
e stories Of mud on palace carpets reca
Y the proletariat's trampling throug
n Tsarskoye-Selo.
y Madness in a nation of reputsd ed,
cationai and material attainments Is,
a course, always imaginable. The Par
. Commune seemed suddenly TO confute q
q that had ever been said Of France as
|. beacon Of civilization. It is possible tn
: with the present outward forms of Be
: shevism in Germany may sppear also |
4 widest sfollies. But France spent /
. unrsasonins passion in few terrib