Evening star., 1926-06-20
The German Plebiscite.

Germany is voting today TO deter
mime the disposition Of the property
of the former rulers of the empire. A
campaign of bitter contention has
been waged on this subject for weeks
and now comes the plebiscite. upon
xhe results of which may turn the fate
Of the republic. The most intense
partiSanship has been manifested
throughout the discussion. President
Won Hindenburg has aligned himself
W1th those opposing contiscation and
hinted at his retirement from office
IL the vote favors the seizure by the
state of the estates of the former En-
peror and other members, of the no
bility.
1t is stated in some Of the dispatches
xllat the leading opponents of contis
cation have advised their followers to
abstain from voting, on the principle
that there is no justification fois the
submission of the question to popular
referendum: that the title to the
estates cannot be brought into ques-
don. If that is the case, the result
of the vote will be overwhelmingly in
favor Of the seizure of the properties,
for the proposal has appealed strong
1y to the mass of the people, who feel
that in some way they may be re-
ueved from the burden Of taxation
through the taking over of the estates
by the government.
An attempt has been made TO give
this vote the aspect of Il test Of the
sentiment of the people regarding the
form of government, empire or repub-
lie This, however. is not the case.
There is no sign that opposition TO
the confscation plan is in any large
degree actuated by desire TO revert
20 the former mode of government.
Naturally. the monarchists, who de-
sire to see the imperial rule re-estab-
lished, are opposed to contiscation. But
MANY others who would resist mon
archism are in opposition to the TAX
ing or the properties, on the ground
that the estates belong to those who
gardless Of the system of government
under which they were acquired, and
that therefore 1t is contrary to moral
ity to take them.
Just where the line may be Drawn
between the property of a ruler as
such and as a citizen is extremely
difficult To determine. Here in this
country the personal estate Of the
individual is held sacred, regardless
OF the office which he may hold II
has been acquired through his indus |
try, or by bequest. In lands of long
established monarchial rule, however,
tne estates of the ruling caste are in
many cases of public origin. obtained
through seizures. by the employment
Of official mea sures. as prerogiEiyes Of
position and poWel
Ia practicalIy an revolutions il mo
uarchial countries the holdings of the 4
ruling caste have been contiscated in
the past. To the enrichment perhaps Of
successors in Office and power. In Ger
many the revolution was accompanied
by no such measure Of retribution. |
This present vote is the first case Of
record Of submission OF the question |
10 popular viii. II comes tardily, sev-
eral years after the overturn of the |
government. 1t is therefore a unique |
spectacle in history.
Fears OF the collapse OF the Ger
man Republic in consequence Of this |
test Of sentiment are probably base |
less. The German people are appar-
entity content with their present mode |
of government, however they may ex-
press themselves on this present issue. |
Should confiscation he voted and car
rled out by means of legislation there
may be a monarchial reaction, which. |
however, cannot succeed unless there
is a profound change in the sentiment
of the people.
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