The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1919-08-23
EBERT CHEERED
WHEN SWORN IN
As PRESIDENT
Takes Oath AS Head of New
German Republic
CALLS GERMANS TO UNITY
Assembly Takes Up With Enthusiasm
the Cry, "Long Live Our
German Nation
CALLS GERMANS TO UNITY

| Weimar, Aug. 22-Friedrich Ebert
took the oath as Imperial President
at the National Theatre today. A
large crowd had gathered in the
square before the theatre, where a
guard of honor was drawn up with the
Landjager band playing.
Herr Ebert arrived in an automobile
at O'Clock in the afternoon and was
received at the main entrance OF the
theatre by the Vice President and Sec
retaries who conducted him to where
Konstantin Fehrrenbach, President OF
the National Assembly, was awaiting
him. The organ played as Herr Feb
Irenbach led the President to the centre
of the flower bedecked hall, where the
Presidents tribute Is situated. The
members of the Imperial Council and
Assembly rose to welcome Herr Ebert
but places reserved fer the German
National and Independent Socialists
were empty.
Herr Ferhrenbach handed the Presi.
dent the document containing the
oath, the formula of which Herr Ebert
recited with a firEl voice. Herr Feb
renbach then said to the President:
You came from the people and
| therefore you will ever be faithful
friend of the working people, to whom
you have devoted your life work You
will also ever be shield to the Father
land which you have done your best
to serve and for the sake Of which you
have made terrible and most painful
sacrifice, seeing that of four sons you
sent to the colors two have not return
ed 1t is thorny Office which In the
hardest times the Fatherland has
laid upon your shoulders, but with an
easy conscience you can claim to be
| free from blame or responsibility in
the countrys wretched position.
President Ebert in reply said:
This must remain to us If we desire
TO rebuild the Fatheriand- love
for the homeland and the tribe out OF
which each of US sprang-an to this
must be joined sacred labor for the
whole and the placing of ones self in
the empires service. Every contradic-
ton between the whole and the indi-
vidual States vanishes there.
"The essence of our Constitution
shall above all be freedom but all
| freedom must have its law. This ycu
have now established. We will Jointly
hold on to it, 1t will give us strength
to testify for the new vital principle
of the German nation-freedom and
right"
President Bbert's address evoked
loud applause. Herr Fehrenbach then
addressed the Assembly as follows:
Farewell Wemar! Our principle
task here was the Constitution and In
auguration of comprehensive legisla-
ton. The assemb.y's task was to build
out OF heap of ruins a new edifice.
| the key to which is now in the peoples
hands---an edieice that offers to all
parts of the nation modest but habit
able quarters, and over which flies the
flag of freedom and social Justice. 1t
is now for the German people to mani
fest its will by the preservation OF
peace and order and by unwearied
labor, Loyalty holding together in the
newly created State. In the hands OF
the people lies our fate. We believe
| in the German people,
Loud and repeated applause greet.
ed the speech Of Herr Ferrenbach,
who, after having been thanked for
the manner in which he had directed
the business of the Assembly, cried:
"Lcng live our German nation! Long
live our beloved Fatherland!" The
, ASSEMBLY, took up and repeated his
words with enthusiasm