The Redwood gazette., 1919-03-26
The Peril Persists
(By Theodore Christianson).

The war IS over, but ne would be
rash who would assert as a definite
fact that the peril of Prussianism has
passed. The world would not be "safe
for democracy" if stronger Germany
dominated by an ambitious autocra-
tic, socialistic group, were left with
power to make effective its will to
square accounts with the now-victori-
Gus Allies.
deprived of Alsace- Lorraine, Ger
many will be stronger than before,
both in numbers and in resources il in
the future she is permitted to effect
union with German Austria. With
claims of rival dynasties eliminated,
there will be nothing left to prevent
such union, unless the other nations
take steps to insure for themselves
the fruits of victory by writing into
the constitution of the League Of Ma
tions provisions forbidding amalgama-
tions and consultations of nations.
The League of Nations would serve
but a temporary purpose IL 1t was
permitted for nations with the Lea
que to combine into sovereigntles out
weighing in power the League itself.
The League of Nations, as proposed,
seems to have for it's sole purpose to
make strife between nations lmposSl-
Bile. Should it not make impossible
bonds between nations, either by for
NAL alliance of informal amity, which
would make possible the formation OF
lesser league within the greater! Ii
the greater may be dominated by a
lesser league within, may not one ma
tion by securing for itself a prepon-
derant position within the lesser lea
que control the greater? May not
Germany through the League OF Ma
tions accomplish what she failed 10
accomplish in the world War!
Germany, as the mother OF Social
ism. has always exercised an influence
over Bolshevik Russia. With royalty
eliminated from Germany, the conscl-
entiousness of spiritual klnshlp
will be strengthened. Ii the
slow-moving docile throngs OF Russia
who already acknowledge the intellec-
tlaI leadership Of Germany, should ac-
cent German political and Industrial
control. a combination would be e1-
fected before which the world might
well tremble. Russia resources-1ooa
minerals. territorial position and men
would make Germany sel1-suIIl-
cient.
"And be it remembered, that it Ger
oanv had been as self-sufficient, as
she was efficient, William Honenzole
lern would today have been ruler OF
the world.
at is dangerous to assume that Ger
man militaristic ambition died with the
fall of the Hohenzollerns. Leaving
out of consideration the possibility
that the Hohenzollerns may return to
their former power, it is well to re-
member that since period long be-
fore the ancestors of William IL be-
came actors on the stage of History,
the German tribes were Warllke. For
the last generation, all of their ener-
gies, thought, kultur and aspirations
have been directed toward wOrld-con-
quest. There is no evidence that the
German people are repentant; there is
much evidence that they are sullen and
revengeful.
Domination by the new Germany
would be worse than domination by
Germany. of the Hohenzollerns, for IN
the latter group of the most intel
Iligent and efficient ruled. In the new
Germany Bolshevik Germany the
power is in the hands of the worst ele-
ments. Autocracy under the best class
lis preferable to autocracy under the
worst. If there should be a ruling
class, let it come from the top not
from the bottom strata of society. Roy
atty is better than Bolshevism The
government of the Gar was prefera-
BILE to that of Lenine. But democracy
government by the people bet
ter than government by any class. If
the world wants to preserve democra-
cy, let it guard itself against the So
viets as it has defended itself against
kings.
1.-The most imperative step, the step
which must be taken if the fruits of
victory are to be retained, is to write
into the Constitution of the World pro-
visions which will make it impossible
for Germany, Austria and Russia to
combine to destroy throughout the
world"
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