Evening star., 1924-10-26
BY OLIVER OWEN KUHN.

II I AS Germany done mere lip
- service to the cause of peace
and progress in the Old World
! Il Il or does there prevail a deeply
| rooted, conscious desire to
once more take her place with other
nations in eradicating the ills that
befell during and after the war? Has
there been mockery in compliance with
| allied dictates, or has Germany
turned the corner for all time away
| from imperialistic ambitions? In
| snort, has Germany's spirit and show
! or good faith in meeting world die
| tates been real or has it been mere
| manifestation of political and diplo-
| matlc psalm singing, hypocritical in
us essence, and especially designed
| to deceive the balance of the world
! until economic and physical recov-
! cry is such that Germany can once
| more pursue independent courses?
These are questions that naturally
| arise in contemplation of the forth
| coming German elections, made nec-
| essary by the dissolution of the Ger
| man Reichstag and the call for new
| elections on December Z. There have
| been other similar elections since the
war and there has been veritable
| parade of incoming and outgoing
| governments in Berlin, but no cleo
tion is fraught with so much signifi-
canoe as the one which is to take
| place in December. For, at no other
time has there been so much at stake,
not only from a foreign but from a do
| mestic viewpoint as well.
Distrust Has Prevailed.
During the entire period of the re-
| public there has been distrust Of
| Germanys good intentions. There
| ever has been question as to the
! ability of the republic to withstand
| the counter tides of nationalism as
| exemplified by remnants of the old
! order. AS the result of the conflicts
that have ragged and principles that
! have been enunciated by the various
| political elements in Germany, re-
| publicanism and nationalism are the
| two great issues involved in prac-
| tically every political move Oh the
| German chessboard. But never be-
! fore have the two issues been so set
disguised under one issue or an
other-barring possibly in Bavaria,
where Ludendorf's brainstorm re-
| suited in momentary nationalistic
| humiliation-the German people
never have been able to register de-
| cisively whether they are for a re-
turn to old nationalistic control or
whether they will ever remain stead
| fast in the cause of the republic.
| Too many domestic questions
| caused by unemployment and finan-
| cial chaos have beclouded the issue
At the present juncture neither OF
these questions will materially in
! fuence tho vote in the coming cleo
| ton. The question squarely is one
| as to whether the people of Germany
| uphold the course of the republican
government in modifying Germany s
enemies, complying with the treaty
| of Versailles and effecting foreign
| agreements looking to Germany
| economic and financial recovery from
! the war, or whether they still banker
/ for the Hohenzollerns, Won Hinden-
burss, the Won Ludendorffs, the Won
| Tirpitzes and the whole brood of
| trouble makers which brought the Ger
man people to their at present lowly
I estate.
one would suspect that a nation
suffering as Germany has suffered
| would shudder at the very thought
! Of Hohenzollern restitution, but
! national conscience and national
| will so many decades bent into royal
ist molds cannot be Strengthened by
the mere saying so. German people
apparently have striven bravely to
| erase old influences and adopt the
| new. but 1t ever has remained ques-
! ton in the minds of peoples of for
mer enemy nations as to whether the
reformation has been complete
| change of attitude that could be
| taken for granted in the framing OF
| international relationships and direct
agreements with Berlin.
Campaign Issues Plain.
| II generally is accepted in Europe
! at the moment that Europe soon will
know the truth, for the issues in
| Germany have been made plain at the
very inception OF the German cam
paigr.
/ The Nationalists, the enemies CT re-
publicanism and the apostles OF mon
archism, openly have announced that
they will work for the overthrow OF
the republic and the restoration OF
the old order. They have marshaled
the hosts of pan-Germanism to wage
valiant fight for control of the gov
ernment This embraces renuncia-
ton of the treaty of Versailles and
open defiance to allied dictates.
| Aligned with them in the fight is the
Centrist party, of which Foreign Minis
ter Won Stresemann is the leader. The
CenteriSts have stood out for greater
nationalistic representation in the
Reichstag. Political enemies charge
that while Won Stresemann wooed
the bourgeois, governing elements
he secretly was promising support OF
the Nationalist cause, and, in fact
has gone SO far as to work for the
custer of Marx and complete domino.
ton of the government by the Ma
| tionalists.
Back of these two elements leaning
SO strongly against the prevailing Or
der are the great industrialists oi
the land, who hold the sinews of any
war, whether it be military or politi-
! cal-capital. The industrialists. II is
reported, have received promises that
if the Nationalists and Centrist:
| gain control Iney will eliminate IN,
| eight-hour day for the nations la
Dor, and, Furthermore, do away with
forced unemployment doles.
Opposing NattoRalists.
Arrayed against the Nationalist
are the Democrats, Socialists and the
Clericals. These parties have been