The New York herald., 1922-07-09
Declares That Nothing Can
Avert Political COnvulsiOn
Now Threatening.
NO COMPROMISE ASKED
Republicans or Monarch
lists Must Win Decisively
to Bring Peace.
OPPOSES BIG INDEMNITY
Believes 1t Will Be Source of
Trouble Until 1t Is
Abandoned.
OPPOSES BIG INDEMNITY
BY SIR PHILIP GIBBS.

BY SIR PHILIP GIBBS.
Special Cable to THE NEw YORK HERALD.
Copyright, 1922. by THE New YORK HERALD.
LONDON. July S.-The disquieting
news from Germany following the re-
cent assassination of Rathenau brings
d closer vision TO all who have. been
studying the after war psychology of
the German people of the inevitable
conflict which must take place in that
country. Whether it will be a bloody
struggle, plunging Germany into an
archy and civil war to it's full heights
of tragedy. no mortal man may say.
There is still hope that the essential
love of order among the German folk.
weariness of blood. strife and half ra-
tions after the European war, may
avert some terrors of the impending
crisis. Nothing can avert a political
convulsion more violent than what
has yet happened. For the German
people have not yet decided between
the two opposing ideas which divided
them from top to bottom and that de-
cision must be made by the urgent
pressure of events. by the very neces-
sity of life.
The Republican Idea.
One idea is a republican democracy
fulfilling the obligations of defeat so
far as is humanity possible, winning
relief from what is not possible by
growing common sense and the friend
liness of other people no longer de-
| sirous of vengeance beyond the bounds
of justice, and realizing the interde-
pendence of all civilized nations in
| commerce. society and health. That
was Rathenaus philosophy and for
that he was killed.
On the other side is the idea Of
monarchical Germany holding fast to
old traditions of might and military
force, with sternly disciplined de-
mocracy drilled to obey orders and die
as gun fodder when so required. The
old caste, faithful to the old imperial
flag and scepter idea. the aristocracy.
with all its prerogatives of rank and
democracy, lies low for a moment in
provincial castles or Berlin apart
ments, needs time to establish it's
policy of force against all enemies
within and without. But it is con-
vinced it can avoid the obligations of
defeat by stubborn resistance until. in
twenty years from now or less, defeat
itself will be turned to victory by a
new invasion of France. with or with
out Russia in alliance, and the next
time without a halt to Paris.
Those two ideas clash within the
soul of the people. which is Germany,
like the conflicting natures OF Jekyll
and Hyde, acid and alkali. positive
and negative electricity. The clash of
thought must lead to explosion. One
side or the other must win with no
uncertain victory before the riddle of
Germany. and with it that of Europe,
| is solved.
The Monarchist Appeal.
| It is easy to understand the false
appeal made by moaarchists TO great
masses of German mind. II is an ap-
peal to the old sentiment. which is
very strong in the German mentality:
to self-interest, which is after all the
dominant motive in most individuals.
and to hatred. fear and greed. How
easy is propaganda when based on
those impulses.
When | was recently in Germany
all classes above peasasts, laborers
and factory worker were in a state OF
nerves because OF the loss of Upper
Silesia and the extreme difficulty of
paying indemnities without new Grip
pling taxation. In order TO meet the
demands OF the allied Powers the
Government of which Rathenau was
member was faced with the neces-
sty Of taxing capital and all forms of
luxury and small professional in
comes with merciless severity. Rathe-
nau. as wirth's right hand man, was
ready to do so with religious zeal.
In a remarkable book called IN
DAYS to Come he had made a tre-
mendous attack upon the morals and
mentality of the German aristocracy
and financial adventurers and had
outlined a philosophy for a new Ger
many which should win great VIC
tories of peace by austere self-sacri-
flee and civic virtue. He proposed a
scheme of taxation which was radical
| and ruthless in dts attack on in
| herited wealth and war profits. I
heard him make his first speech In
the Reichstag in which he vaguely
forecasted his purpose. II was re-
ceived with jeers and mocking laugh
ter from the Right
Held Ratbenau RENEGADE.
They looked upon him as a renegade
| hypocrite, for he was declaring war
upon his own class. preparing to bleed
| Germany TO death, as they thought.