Evening star., 1923-10-26
In TODAY'S SPOTLIGHT
BY PAUL y. COLLINS

In today's spotlight there is but one
ii ure-Germania seemingly in the
dance Of national death.
Standing out against a dark back
ground. where "vaulting a m bit o n
O. 'erleapt ITSELF" what contortions of
agony, what writings of despair, will
the world behold in the glare of civil
war?
The central government at Berlin
charges that the secession Of Bavaria,
wurttemburg and the states forming the
Rhineland republic is the work Of
France and Belgium, inspired for the
purpose of disbandin the German en-
pire and also of establishing a buffer
state between Prussia and her western
enemies.
North and south Germany were never
Homogeneous. No mere commercial
rivalry made division between the
states. There was a radical difference
from the beginning between Industrial
Bavaria and militaristic Prussia. and
also a sharp difference in religion.
North Germany PRUSSIA and adjoining
states) Is Protestant, while south Ger
many (Wurttemberg and Bavaria) Is
Roman Catholic. with a history of
loyalty to the Pope. and clerical domi-
nance in civil government. Such ad-
hesion to the church has always been
repugnant to the empire centering in
Prussia. That has made unity between
the states difficult to maintain in har-
mony. even In days of imperial glory
and national prosperity. 1t is not sur
prising. then, to find that the strain
of adversely is splitting the sections
apart.
Germans are disposed to discount
look up to a strong royal throne for
direction In affairs Of state. Even the
sociaiists-of whom there are legions
In Germany-look to the government to
assure prosperity to the masses. rather
than for democratic industry and per-
sonal initiative to create 1t and become
the solid foundation beneath govern
mental powers. Imperialism Is more
methodic-systematic
public there are voices calling for a
king. Bavaria is calling for a king.
In that call there Is secret sympathy
In Prussia, for II a re-seating Of king
is possible in those lesser kingdoms
why not eventually a king again In
Prussia? "Hoch der -"
II y y
In the same days cables come con-
Trajectory reports. One quotes Joseph
Mathes. the leader of the Rhineland re-
public. as declaring loyalty to the "em-
pire" and simply maintenance Of state
rights within the ''empire"-for the
German epublic is still so lmperialistie
in its feeling that 1t cannot drop the
term ''reich'' or empire"
The other report indicates complets
rebellion and separation. With the es.
tablishment Of separate nation. the
Rhine,and republic. as fait accompli
national troops to maintain loyalty nc
, longer to the Berlin government, but
to defend the Rhineland republic.
That which has been In recent
years (since. f871) the German EN-.
pire was formerly a group of inde.
! pendent units Kingdoms, arch,
duchies. duchies, principalities and
free cities-of which the Kingdom o.
Prussia was one unit. at frst not
much. more powerful than some
F, others Among the lesser units were
Schleswig and Holstein. which Chris.
tian TX of Denmark sought to detact
| from their German affiliations and at.
tach to Denmark.
Prussia and Austria led the wal
against Christian TX, and wrune
Schleswig and Holstein from the griI
of Denmark-andt then quarreied be.
tween themselves over a division OF
the spoils.
AS this Prussian-Aust war was
drawing to battle, Austria depended
| on the outspoken support of the
smaller German Kingdoms against
lPrussia--but in vain. When II came