The public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1913-1968, 1922-09-14
eBRMANY WITH tHK WAR ENDED
written Specially for Public Ledger
BY Edward Percy Howard, Auto.
caster-New York Bureau.

We have just passed the eighth an
niversary of the outbreak of the world
war.
And whta results? A few new ma
tions in place OF older nations, new
nations destined to bloodshed and
suffering to maintain and develop their
entity, old nations embittered to battle
for their reincarnation.
OF Germany n review indicates a
bankrupt nation, but one getting back
on its feet. Financial ruin has little
meaning. So long as the world will
accept German paper money at some
price, so long will the printing presses
turn 1t out.
1t is difficult to get proper perspec-
tive of Germany. Henri Lichtenberger,
professor of the University of Paris, in
a twelve day visit to Berlin a few
weeks ago, dug out some very interest
ing facts.
Lichtenberger points out that the
German National party has succeeded
the old Conservative party. This in
cludes the aristocrats, the proprietors
of large estates and high officials of
the old regime. The officials who have
lost their positions and who are liv-
ing from hand to mouth supply the
party with force, are always ready for
action. are energetic, eager for battle
and even anxious for fight.
The university people, both faculty
and students, fed on the tradition of a
policy of force, feel keenly the humili-
alton Of defeat, and have ranged them
selves solidly behind the idea of res
toration OF the German military power.
The peasants form the mass Of the
party.
The leaders have capitalized certain
elemental mental conditions for the
purpose of building strength, and Or
ganization. They exploit the bitterness
Of the former privileged classes, they
play upon the resentment OF the dis
banded army, they wave the fear flag
of Bolshevism, and excite the anti
Semitic passion and the profound mis-
cry caused by the attitude OF France
toward the conquered. Hence they
have linked to a common cause the
fanatics, the disconnected, and the low
ers of militarism.
The German newspapers, particular
ly the Deutsche Tageszeitung, aid in
driving the masses to despair. They
infuse them with the conviction that
they have nothing more to lose, no
matter what happens
Even before the blood has coagulat-
ed nj the German wounds, there has
ben established an almost universal
determination to reconquer the lost
provinces, particularly upper Silesia
and even Alsace-Lorraine. The old
German Imperialism is far from dead. |
AS against this attitude of the Ma
tional party there battle the Demo-
cratic Socialists and idealists who
want to purge the country of revenge,
and who dream of lasting peace in
which the nations shall lie down to-
gether, the lions becoming lams. Plus
this Is found the Peoples party, COM
posed of many captains of industry,
bold and resolute men who have fin
anced Germany in the war and since |
the war, men who are making huge
profits from the revival OF industry
and who are doing the best they can to |
conceal every dollar they make. While |
the Nationalist would be happy with |
revenge. the Peoples group would be |
content with revenue.
Briefly the public mind is kept in |
responsive condition by wise German |