The Brunswick news. [volume] (Brunswick, Ga.) 1906-2016, 1921-09-13
THE MoNARcHIsTs IN GERMANY

L
( Whether or no a monarchist plot
lurked in the assassination of that stall
wart champion of German democracy,
Dr. Matthias Erzberger, the Berlin
government does well to take vigor-
GUS measures against SO sinister
possibility. That royalist forces have
been subtly at work is not to be doubt
ed, nor that they would seize boldly
upon favoring chance for a coun-
ter revolution. The faint of Potsdam
is too deep i4 the souls of all who ever
bore it, and the Junker strut too much
"a habit of mind ever to be. eradicated
says the Atlanta Journal AS long as
they live those who made up the true
will and sinew of Prussianism will be
enemies of the German republic and
thereby a menace to the world.
/ There is nothing, it is true, in the
situation or character of the fugitive
ex-kaiser to bestir enthusiasm for a
1 back from-Elba adventure. Three
years ago this autumn he and the
crown princelet fed the "Fatherland,
! as sorry pair Of nincompoops as ever
numbered the earth; and their 5suhse-
qusnt story has served but to point
the proverb, strip majesty Of its ex-s
!, ternals,' and you have merely a jest"
/ But Observation-Disclosures conspiracy
would not be dependent on the Hohen-
zollerns; indeed, it might wisely blot
, that family from its plans and start
afresh with strong men" Of the blood
and iron breed, reminders Of that Bis
marck whom Wilhelm the Second
himself sent packing from the en-
pire's service. Nor would such a con-
, spiracy be limited to single SUI lden,
allfinishing stroke; 1t might we'll pro-
coed by short marches. picking it's
path cautiously, Disgusting its intent,
making way with first one and then
another democratic institution, as
! Erzberger was struck down, until at
1
sensibly, In letters.
/ But unless the omens of the time
are sadly false, militarism and auto
cracy will not regain their grip upon
the German people In the present
rcichstag. which may be- considered
fairly Representative Of the country's
sentiment, there are but seventy-one
avcwed enemies CT the republican in
stitution. in total membership of
four hundred and sixty-nine, and they,
for the most part, are of the so-callcd
German National Peoples Party, re-
cruited from the old conservatives or,
as we would say. standpatters. These.
curiously enough, work in parliament
tary union with the Communists, who
also ere against the existing republic.
and these two factions have a COM
bined voting strength OF ninety-six
The remainder of the four hundred
and sixty r. mbers of the reichs,agI
arc divided among five party groups.
tho majority OF whom are considered
wcll-meaning If not always sagacious
friends OF the new order. The Major
ity Socialists. with their one hundred
and eight, and the Independents. with
their sixty-one members. can be de-
ipended upon 10 combat to the utmost
any attempt to restore the monarchy:
while the two middle class democratic
parties, with one hundred and twelve
votes. and the Bavarian Peoples party
with twenty stand firm for the re-
public as matter of expediency IL
not altogether of principle.
out OF this liberal mixture the wirth
government has managed thus far to
muster enough support to sustain its
lpclitics, both foreign and domestic;
and whatever political overtures may
bechance In the seasons ahead, II is
net thought by competent observers
to be likely that the changes will
reach the extent of a counter revolu-
ton. Certainly. it is to be wished,
and most devoutly. that the democra-
tic spirits OF Germany will keep the
lfaith and fight the good fight on which
depend their countrys future veal and
lmuch OF the worlds happiness.