Evening star., 1924-12-07
Peaceful Advance or Retrogression,
Issues in Today's German Election

national issues provided, however there do
not arise all powerful and antagonisttc inter-
ests within Germany proper.
Germany under Marx has seen an almost
superhuman achievement in the stabilizing of
badly demoralized currency. There has been
increased activity along industrial and agricul-
tural lines with the result, there has been less
suffering than at any period since the war,
though conditions among people at large are
far from enviable. But the people of Germany
have enough to warrant continuation of
their confidence in the republic 1t is at
present constituted. They at least have seen
good will for Germany increase in other a
tions and have witnessed the material rewards
that usually follow growth of confidence in
good intentions.
the German people would rise uppermost and
dictate continuation of courses which the
world admits have been conducive to Ger
many's advance. But political trends in Ger
many since the overthrow of the old regime
have been tricky. In view of the tremendous
effort the Nationalsts putting up in Ger
many, the same holds good today.
What SationaIists Want
The Nationalists demanding though
faint-heartedly, a revision in the Dawes plan
which now is effective and functioning
efficiently that it even amazes its authors. The
German Nationalists still cling to the idea
that in modification of some of it's precepts
will come escape from tremendous financial
burdens imposed. With economic conditions
in Germany as they are, this is good campaign
material and 1t must be admitted 1t has made
great inroads in some quarters The National
lists monarchial and If they once gain COM
plete control of the government they might
be expected to initiate plans for a return of
the Hohenzollerns. This action would not be
Immediate, but with control of the govern
ment the pathway to this end easily could be
cleared of obstacles. The Nationalists could
Ia n pl tQ NJ fha
nation they once were suppressed and infiict
through domestic and international legislation
tremendous burdens upon the working classes
of the nation.
The Nationalists argue that only in Ion ;er
hours and smaller wages can Germany be
expected to surmount the tremendous penal
ties imposed through loss of the war. In this
connection it Is interesting to note the eager
with which the Nationalists stress Ger
manys innocence in connection with initiating
the struggle. 1t would appear from the trend
of German political speeches and utterances of
the press that Germany is interested in
clearing her skirts in this regard than she is
in once more assuming the high road to eco
nomic and financial progress.
Chance for Mnitarism
One of the dangerous features of any Ma
tionlist assumption to power would be per-
petuation of miltaristic theories throughout
the nation. The Nationalsts discuss Gross
Deutschland and have been the guiding in
fuence in the reformation of political groups
of semi-military nature. The Nationalists
have been instrumental, according to the
French, in reviving the old militaristic spirit
and today are the controlling geniuses in the
establishment of military and aerial works in
other countries all designed to furnish Ger
many with sinews when they needed.
Even though presumably there be allied mill
tary control the allies say little in regard
to the activities of the Germans in other
countries and have little control of military
organizations that pretend to be civic. The
burden of proof so far has been generally too
great for the allies who have investigated