New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1919-02-23
Promise of National Moral
Regeneration Wrecked by
Wcimar Parlia m en- t
Like Defunct Reicllstag
Proceedings Without Sign
of Radically New Era or
Even a New S pirit
Now York Tribune
Special Cable Service


WElMAR, Feb 22.-The Parliament
of the German nation has been at wor!
now about two weeks. It's achieve
ment during that time may best be
characterized by saying that it has
wound up the German revolution and
gone a long way toward the rccstab-
lishment of the ancient regime.
1t has terminated the interval of
constitutional lawlessness, when the
revolution was the supreme authority
and sole law giver. But while the con-
stitutonal recovery may. FOR the mo-
ment, at least, have banished some
perils incidental to the revolutionary
unsettlemcnt, it also has wrecked the
promise of national moral regcnera-
ton.
In its composition and grouping of
parties this National Assembly is for
all the world like the defunct Rcichs-
tag under Bethmann-Hollweg or
Prince Max. There is the same bloc of
Majority Socialists and Contrasts, sup
ported by progrcssives and, if allow
ance be made for the altered circum-
stances, also the same policy.
One Fundamental Difference
1t is true there is one fundamental
difference. Whereas the old Reichstag
majority bloc was merely tool of su-
perior authority, or, at best, made only
futile efforts to have its will prevail
against those high powers, the Ma
tional Assembly majority bloc appears
as the supreme and sole authority in
the land.
However, only the future can show
how far this claim can be justified and
whether "divinc right" or other non
popular authority, is definitely thing
of the past in Germany.
Meanwhile, Germany has provis-
ional constitution, provisional prcsi-
dent, a provisional government and a
provisional programme. What is most
striking about it all is the complete
absence Of anything to indicate the ad-
vent Of radically new era and a new
spirit. All attempts to infuse any
thing approaching enthusiasm into the
proceedings failed 1t was all very
humdrum affair, indeed
Ebert Only Mediocrity
Not even his friends will claim that
Friedrich Ebert, the president, is more
than a medioc.ity, who climbs into his
high Office chiefly because of the fact
that he has been less publicly in evil
dence and consequently has given less
offence than some of his colleagues in
the Socialist bureaucracy. Not one of
his ministers can be said to be a man
of more than ordinary ability or brill
fancy.
In the constitutional government pro-
grammc one will search in vain for any
bold new conception, or any definite
departure from the past methods of
governmental regime, which most of
the present ministers spent their lives
denouncng. 1t was Characteristic of
the new ministers that they repealed a
suggestion to preclude recourse to
secret diplomacy by clause in the
constitution. The very name republic
was timidly avoided in the constitution
and the colorless German word for free
state was used instead
| asked Ebert, Erzberger and sew
eral other leaders why they had let es-
cape the opportunity of proclaming
the principle of free trade in their con-
stitution, or, at least, the government
programme, since such a proclamation
would, more than anything else, tend to
restore those friendly economic rela-
tons with the outside world which the
Germans so ardently desire.
Centrists Make Progress
This seemed never to enter their
minds, although free trade has always
had heretofore a prominent place in
the programmes Of two of the largest
parties represented in the assembly,
Philip Scheidemann' speech, though
rather better than his average perform
ance, met with considerable applause
in the non-Socialist sections of the
house, mainly because it proved, if
proof were needed, that nothing calcu-
lated to damage the interests or shock
the susceptiblites of the governing
classes need be feared from his gov
eminent, either in domestic or foreign
affairs.
In view of this self-denying ordi
nance of the Majority Socialists there
is at present no reason to doubt that
the government coalition Will work in
tolerable harmony. Trouble would be
most likely to come from the preten-
SONS of the Centrist party, which is
great and sure to grow as time goes on.
But this danger is somewhat modified
by the remarkable fact that the Par
liamentary Centre, though its election
ecring campaign was frankly reaction
airy, has undergone an important trans
formation in the elections