Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1919-11-19

military victory. I had no doubt or
this point.
In the spring of 1918 a far-seeinp
entente statesman made the following
remarks:
I'm London and Paris there is today
a general fundamental belief that the
German army on the western front
will never be conquered by purely
military means. But it is. neverthe-
less, clear that the entente will win,
and that by the international condi-
tions in Germany and the central
powers. which will lead to the fall of
the imperial house. At latest in the
autumn of this year the revolution
Will break out in Germany. 1t is quite
clear to us that there are influential
circles in Germany who would regard
nothing as so bad as a military vic
tory of Ludendorff"
This fitted strangely we'll the words
of Sprobel, member of the Prussian
Diet, and editor of Vorwarts, in 1915:
Il confess quite openly that COM
plete victory of the empire would not
be in the interests of social democ-
racy."
1 was reluctant to writes these lines
and let them go out to the world.
But truth is truth, and these words
were spoken.
Wanted Chancellor to Act,
The chancellor was responsible for
the maintenance of morale at home.
@. H.Q. would have been glad to I'M
dertake direct counter propaganda by
explanation, but. in accordance with
its duty, 1t always approached the
chancellor and begged him to act.
1t was his duty to remove the I'M
Fortunately only too justified grounds
for popular dissatisfaction, and espe-
cially to take steps against the abuses
and excuses in war industries. Gle
refers to profiteering, strikes and fa-
vOrtism to munition workers.) They,
with their regretable accompanying
disadvantages, were bound to awaken
much indignation and to damage the
m orale of wide circles of society in a
calculated to do infinite harm
to our strength in the war
Profit-hunting. luxury and selfish
n ess overcame all honorable influ-
cnces, but short rations also blunted
their finer perceptions. Men standing
in the trenches fighting the enemy
had to fear that their jobs and their
trades were being taken from them
by others 1t is very painful to look
back and see how the German sin,
cerity and honesty, the spotless per-
sonal cleanliness and the selfish
thought for ones country were lost
and in their place came a wholly UNI
G erman idea. that the interests of
were the only law of life.
The chancellor should have told
the people whittier they were drifting
and explained to them the whole of
their serious situation. The govern
m Snt should have explained again and
again what was at stake, that an en-
durable peace could only be won from
a defeated enemy, and that we would
otherwise be the victims of a peace
of violence, Only victory could save
us from the latter or bring us the
former.
Puts Blame on Bourgeoisie.
Our political and intellectual i'm
and lack of critical faculty,
which rendered us unable to perceive
the emptiness of catch phrases and
i'm possible promises, were and are the
use of our misfortunes. L had al
ways hoped that the people would
force their way through phrases,
pa tch-words and political trickery to
/ view of the facts that really cor
respond to realities.
I was disappointed. The more the
ire of domestic politics ragged. the
more the gulf between class and class. |
own and country deepened. so the |
more did phrases, catch words and |
criminal illusions hold sway. Soon
parties and party aims were of more |
importance than the country. The |
'road mass of the bourgeoisie, con-
used mob, always knowing better |
han anyone else and lacking all dis |
.iphne,. went its own way. and stood |
ISOLATED In its mental arrogance. its
e1uctance to act, its lack of character.
t, too. had no sense of its RESPONSE |
ility to the country. It never Thought
What infinite damage II was bringing
m the country and on itself.
{ The lack Of restraint and principle