The sun., 1919-08-23
EBERT IS PRESIDENT
OF GERMAN EMPIRE
Takes Oath of Office and Re-
public Is Not Mentioned
in Ceremonies.
TO REBUILD FATHERLAND
"Deutschland Uber Allies" Is
Sung-Independent So
cialists Absent.
BIZ The Associated Press.

wEtMAR. Aug. 81 (delayed) Fried
rich Ebert took the oath as Imperial
President at the National Theatre to-
day. A large crowd had gathered in
the square before the theatre. where a
guard of honor was drawn up, with the
Landjaeger 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. Presidents and Sec
,etaries. who conducted him to where
Constantin Fehrenbach. President Of the
National Assembly, was awaiting him.
The organ played as Herr Fehrenbach
led the President to the centre of the
flower bedecked hall. where the Presi-
dents tribune ie situated. The MEM
hers Of the Imperial Council and AS
sembly arose to welcome Herr Ebert,
hut the places reserved for the German
National and Independent Socialists were
empty.
Recites Oath An Firm Voice.
Herr Fehrenbach handed the Presi-
dent the document containing the oath,
the formula of which President Ebert
reclted with firm voice. Herr Fehren-
bach then said to the President
You came Prom the people and there
fore you will ever be a faithful friend
of the working people, to whom you
have devoted your life work. You will
also ever be a shield to the fatherland,
which you have done your best to serve
and for the sake of which you have
made a terrible and most painful sacri-
ne nj
TO the colors two have not returned.
II In thorny Office which in the hardest
times the fatherland laid upon your
shoulders. but with an easy conscience
you can claim to be free from all blame
or responsibility in the country's
wretched position.
You sought to attain progress and
freedom solely by peaceful development,
but with defeat the die was cast re-
garding the old state form and the
dynasty. Even those who preserve their
love for the old institutions recognize
that fact and leave 1t back in a patriotic
mind in order to work and point the way
10 the rebirth of the beloved father
land"
President Ebert. In reply, said:
This must remain to us IL We desire
20 rebuild the fatherland-deep love for
the homeland and the tribe out of which
each Of us sprang. and to this must be
Joined sacred labor for the whole and
the placing of ones self in the empires
service. Every contradiction between
the whole and the individual States van
ishes there.
1.-The essence OF our constitution shall
above all be freedom. but all freedom
must have its law. This you have now
established. We will jointly hold on to
g. II will give us strength to testify
for the new vital principle of the Ger
man nation-freedom and right"
Ebert Is Loudly Applauded.
President Ebert's address evoked
loud applause. Herr Fehrenbach then
addressed the Assembly as follows:
Farewell. Weimar. Our principle
task here was the constitution and in
auguration of comprehensive legislation.
The Assembly's task was to build out
of a heap Of ruins a new edifce, the
ksy OF which is now in the people's
hands-an edifice that offers to all parts
OF the nation modest but habitable
quarters. and ever which flies the flag
OF freedom and social justice. 1t is
now for the German people to manifest
its will to live 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 appls use. ]
Herr Fehrenbach, after being thanked
for the manner in which he had d.
rected the business OF the Assembly,
cried:
Long live our German nation! Long
live our beloved fatherland!'
The Assembly took up and repeated
his words with enthusiasm.
President Ebert, accompanied by Herr
Fehrenbach, the Vice-Presidents, Min
isters and Deputies, went to the bal
cony OF the theatre and addressed the
crowd. He said:
"A people equal and with equal rights
that is what to-day shall testify be-
fore all Germans. I now renew before
you my oath of fealty to the people and
the peoples rights. Let us stand to-
scther in our peoples hard struggle for
life. Join me in a vow of this indis-
soluble unity 40 that from here-from
the scene OF imperishable deeds-it may
ring throughout the German fatherland.
Long I've our beloved German people %
The crowd broke into deafening cheers
and the band played Deutschland Uber
Allies" which the people sang Justify.