Evening star., 1922-07-09
REPUBLIC DEFENSE ACT
VAIN, DECLARES HARDEN
German Government Held Unsafe While
Compromises With Monarchists and
Improper Public Spirit Continue.

! nexations and by the presence of
black troops on our soil.
These statements daily have been
hammered into millions of German
ma gazines. A. whole flock of new
papers have sprung up. thriving
| wonderfully on the glorifloation of
kaiserism militarism and monarchism.
They have conducted an anti-semittc
campaign. and have agitated pre-
has come largely from advertising
by nationalist businessmen. Many
of these publications are directed by
former officers. mostly naval. and
they have been propagated by let
ters of recommendation from the
Hohenzollern princes.
Republic Too Tolerant.
The republican government has
tolerated all of this. and even Gin
the reparations, Silesian. Sarre basin,
Rhineland and other disputes) has
accused the victors of breaking their
word, not realizing that such declara-
tons would only bolster up the ma
I tional feeling. From this belief that
outside Germany only scoundrels live.
scoundrels who wish to ruin Ger
many and started war against the
innocent German empire for that pur-
pose,' 1t is a short step to a fanatical
persecution of all who do not join in
desire Germany's spiritual regenera-
ton and hope to see the day when
Germany will take her place with the
other nations striving for a purer in
ternational morality
The bill for the protection of the re-
public provides stern punishment,
even death and to confiscation Of for.
tunes, and partly reasonable, but
! largely brutal measures to prevent
the murder wave from growing. But
we must doubt their effectiveness, es-
pecially when we know that in the
second largest German state, Bavaria,
Crown Prince Rupprecht again is liv-
, ing in the royal castle and reviewing
troops. that monarchy still is alive
behind the republican facade and that
Berlin's laws will be defied by the
Bavarians.
The center OF the consul organiza-
tion." founded by former Capt. Ehr-
hardt. is in Munich. 1t has thousands
OF active members everywhere. 1t
issues orders Ito suppress by any
ternationalism.' That means all who
desire an understanding among peo-
pies and who don't put German self
ism ambitions above everything else.
The members of the consul organiza-
ton are instructed never to argue
with such elements. but to use their
weapons unhesitatingly. They are
| urged further to invent new and ir
reSiStible weaponS-for instance. the
firing of explosives at a distance by
electricity. and to select particularly
resolute men for special duties"
Secret Societies Powerful.
Hundreds of such secret societies
exist with plenty of money. powerful
influence, and sufficient weapons for
civil war, and thousands support them
for their patriotic motives" This
poison has penetrated too deep. and
the blunders of the victors have been
too many to hope for the speedy heal
ing of a government whose next task
will be to notify creditors that it
cannot pay its debts. The govern
ment's real power lies in the indus
trial workers. but their agita ton for
higher wages scares the bourgeoisie
into nationalism.
A clear but unthreatening declara-
ton from the great powers might help
the situation in Germany. 1t should
! be TO the effect that:
/! Every help will be accorded to a
democratic, peaceful Germany. but
there will be no intercourse with
Germany returned to monarchism"
An international congress Of unofh-
cial liberal leaders should follow this
declaration.
The German republic. however, will
be safe when 1t needs no other protec-
tion than its constitution and a prop
er public spirit.
fCopyrtght 1927