New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-03-30
Retribution
By Franz II. Simonds

II Is essential in forming any judg-
ment upon events which are now TAX
ing place in Germany to keep in mind
certain facts. Instinctively Americans,
like Englishmen, sympathize with the
so-called Majority Socialists and see in
the Spartacists the imitators of that
minority which became the Bolshevist
masters Of RUSSIA. Within limits this
is not an inaccurate assumption, but it
is we'll to recognize some of the real
grievances of the Minority Socialists
and something Of the actual situation
in Germany.
The revolution which ovcrset the i'm
perial edifice Of Germany came natu-
rally and inevitably from defeat and
from tho conditions which preceded
defeat. III it's more violent aspects it
was maniivstly akin to the Russian
revolution, but it was suppressed only
nominally by the Socialist majority.
which in name, at least, took control OF
the government. Actually the German
revolution in it's final form consisted in
violent suppression of the thorough
going Socialists by the soldiers Of the
old regime.
Ebert a COver
The Ebert government was little more
than cover. a concession to public
sentiment aroused against the mill
taristic and imperial control. Behind
it many Of the old elements continued
to exercise great influence and the
leaders Of the German Junkers awaited
the right moment to throw off the
mask. The repression of the revolt
was conducted with brutality beyond
words. The murders of Liebknecht
and Rosa. Luxembourg were shameful
incidents. Both we're murdered by
German officers, who thus perpetuated
the traditions Of German atrocities in
France and Belgium.
Moreover, the very Socialists who
came to power had been the passive
tools Of the German militarists through
out the war. They had by their votes
supported the government in the
Rcichstag, thus betraying their own
principles. They had fought the small
but gallant minority, which had de-
clared against German crimes in the
war; in a word, during the whole
progress of the struggle they had sur
rendered to the Junkers their votes,
established their position: they were
as much accomplices of the military
offenses as any other element in the
German electorate.
Finally, to preserve even that sem
blance of power which came to them
after the revolution, they were COM
PEELED to permit the military element
to deal with the Spartacists in true
Prussian spirit. The military estab-
lishment, which was created to defend
the new regime, was thus in reality
no more than the old, bearing a new
name, but containing the familiar ele-
ments of the monarchial army. Noske,
who figured largely in the public prints,
was in reality compelled to give such
hostage to the reactionaries that his
own freedom OF action was destroyed.
ShNn, Liberals
What one actually had in Germany,
therefore, was sham ''liberal" gov
eminent, called to power actually by
the reactionaries for the double pur-
pose of deceiving the conquerors and
the masses of the German people, who
were in arms against the unsuccessful
government which had led them to de-
feat and ruin. 1t was the hope that
the Allies would be deceived by this
semblance of democracy and thus mod
crate their terms, it was the expecta-
ton that popular wrath would soon
pass and then the old gang would take
hold.
The first of the hopes was not real
lied. The Allies were not deceived
into resigning the fruits of their vic
tory. and the Treaty of Versailles in.