Evening star., 1934-08-02
Member Of the Assoclatsd Press.
Audacity.

II ls related In the dispatches from
Berlin that while Paul won Hinden-
burg was breathing his ast the Ger
man cabinet was in a closely guarded
session. engaged In the revocation of
the Law Of 1888 providing that In the
event OF the death OF the President
OF the Reich the Office should pass
10 the chief justice OF the supreme
court. Immediately upon receipt OF
word from Heudeck thai Hindenburs
had died Ooeebels, propaganda min
lister. rushed 10 the radio md broad
east the announcement that Hitler
hsd assumed the presidency and
would continue his chaneellorship. So
the ofAcial statement. made a few
hours previously in a warning 10
journalists 10 abstain from sp-cula-
ton as TO the succession, for all that
has been taken care Of" was fully
verined.
The inevitable logic OF the situation
pointed 10 just that end Hitler was
the head OF the state with Hinden-
burg living, in all save a few matters.
such as the retention o. Won Papen
"a vice chancellor following the blood
President in succession would have
been 10 set up a dummy, definitely
and fully under the control of Hitler.
To assume the once himself, by 9
stroke Of state. was not only IN char
Acter, but In consonance with the
whole Hitler policy
During the earlier stages OF the
French Revolution Danton said,
What we require In order to conquer
Is audacity, and yet more audacity,
and always audacity" Hitler has
adopted that principle throughout his
career. Audacity has marked his
every action, has dictated every policy
and move. He has dared greatly, ut
times calamity, with the determina-
tion OF q zealot. He has never Eacil-
hated, mas always acted instantly, as
IN the case OF the move against his
faithless captains little more than
q month ago Credit must be given
to him for consistency and courage.
What will follow? Who can tell?
Hitler Is now the supreme power in
Germany. backed by an unoffcial but
nevertheless authentic army, which,
though somewhat weakened by the
purge of June 30, is still doubtless his
70 command. The Reichswehr, the
cficial army, is seemingly loyal TO
him, though ii was definitely devoted
to Hindenburg The baton. taken
from the hand Of the dead President.
is still a potent symbol of authority,
despite the fact that 1t was had
through a veritably revolutionary act.
AS President and chancellor, Hitler
Is the government of Germany, a die
tator. technically a tyrant, inasnsueh
as he has taken the title despite the
established Law. The difference be-
tween Hitler as chancellor under the
only rarely exercised restraint Of Hin
dnburs and Hitler as President chan
eellor will not be material. But 1t
must be noted that by this latest ac-
tion of seizure Of once he has un-
doubtedly added to his list of enemies,
already long and formidable. He has
incurred the bitter hatred of many
millions of Germans of various classes
and groups. BY his assumption of full
and supreme authority he has placed
himself IN q position Of the greatest
personal danger He is not a ma
Eicisn capable of working miracles Of
economic recovery. He is not a dip
IomatiSt. to sllsy hostility and to win
the allegiance of those whom he has
90 hsrshly msltreated.
Dsnton, the apostle of Audacity,
perished upon the suillotlne.