THE PERIL OF GERMANY

Auckland Star, Volume XXXIII, Issue 285, 1 December 1902, Page 4

THE PERIL OF GERMANY

Amid the agitation about German foreign policy and German commercial competition, we are apt to forget that neither the-domestic peace nor the financial stability of the Kaiser's Empire is in tiny.way assured.' , When all is said and dove, Germany is a -poor country, which for some years past has beeen struggling under heavy financial burdens imposed in the interests of her ambitious naval' and military programmes. The enthusiasm of the Kaiser has so far been able to carry his subjects with him; but there are. many, signs that the limit of endurance of the overtaxed and underpaid working classes is nearly, reached. The 'influence exercised by the Social is constantly extending, and the Kaiser, who is nothing if not consistent in his autocracy, seems now to 'have d'eeided that the time has come to show his Socialist subject's that he alone is master, and that his will must be

obeyed,

The Social Democrat party in the Reichstag is comparatively a small body of members. The last election resulted in the return of 56 Social Democrats as against 103 of the Centre or Clerical party.,, and 74 Conservatives. But for the last three or four years the Social- Democrats have -abandoned 'their eitreme doc-

trines for the sake of political expediency, and have been doing their best to work with the National Liberals, the Kadicals, and other more or less progressive sections of the fteichstag. These parties include about 100 more members, so that the Social Democrats now head a very formidable combination. Moreover, the 56 members returned by the party actually represent far more electors than any other party h>. the Reichstag. About 3,380,000 electors voted for the Social Democrat and Nlational Liberal candidates at the last election; while only about 2,200,000 supported the Clerical and Conservative parties. This is in itself sufficiently significant, and the difficulties that Count yon Bulow has had to face within the last month over his Tariff Bill and other Government measures are a sufficient proof of the strength of the opposition offered by the Social Democrats and their allies.

The policy of the Social Democratic party is, on the whole, simple enough to define. The tinge of communism which is derived from the teaching-s of LassaHe and the early socialists has almost disappeared; and even the extreme economic dogmatism of Karl Marx and his followers is 'no longer an essential feature of the Social Democratic faith. At the congress of the league, heild last month, the president stated that the party was resolutely determined to free the working classes from the opppression of the capitalists. They had made up their mind to defeat the Tariff Bill—and this threat they have since earned out with conspicuous success, as far as those provisions were concerned which were calculated to raise the prices of the necessaries of life. At the congress strong protests were made against the rise in the price of meat, and it was decidled to oppose by all possible means the efforts of the agrarian party to enrich the agricultural and pastoral industries at the. expense of the wage earner. An elaborate programme of municipal socialism has been formulated, and will be forced upon the. notice of the Eeichsta'g at an early late. Moreover, a scheme for the insurance of workmen is an important feature in the new propaganda. It ds ea«y to understand haw obnoxious all this would be to tiboise trained up in the despotic and arbitrary principles of German imperialism. The Kaiser has always regarded the Social Democrats as his natural enemies, and their loudly expressed sympathy with the revolutionary party in Russia has certainly helped to complicate his very precarious relations with the Tsar. In manj' particulars the Social Democrats are strug-g-ling , for advantages and privileges tthat. most English-speaking communities enjoy as their natural birthright ,and heritage. At t(he same time, the violence of many of their leaders and the extreme communistic doctrines that some of them have advocated, have alienated many who admit that the classes whom, the Social Democrats represent have ( genuine grievances that urgently demand redress. The party has now taken its stand for good dv evil, in direct and declared opposition to the Kaiser's will; and the manifesto just published by the linanciers and maignates of Germany declaring that Social Democracy is immoral and pernicious, and demanding its extermination, will certainly precipitate what promises to ibe an internecine struggle (between the

dominant and tQie subject classes in Central Europe.

To-day being St. Andrew's Day was observed as a 'holiday by the banks, insurance, and Goevrnment offices. Special services in celebration of the event were held in some of the Presbyterian churches yesterday. ;■•..'.

Mr W. Jennings is after all elected for ESgrnont, lia-viixg , a majority of 7 votes.

Mr Williaru Moyle, an old colonist, who arrived in Auckland in 18-17, in the brig- Sarah, died yesterday morning- at the residence of his daughter, Mrs G. S. Cammell, Paget-street. The late Mr Jerome Cadman, father of the Hon. A. J. Cadman, was a fellow passenger in the Sarah. ,In the early days Mr Moj'le directed his energies to mining pursxiits, subsequently settling in the city, and has watched its. growth from a village, 'leaves three daughters and one son. He will be interred ai, the Thames.

Mr Michael Tubberty, a well known figure in Queen-street, died at th« Auckland Hospital yesterday. Deceased served/with the 63rd Regiment, and for many years acted as a newsvendor.

A poll of the ratepayers of the One-Tree Hill road district was takien on Saturday on a proposal to raise a loan of £ 1500 for the purpose of maJii ng Xi miles of the Manukainroad. Sixty-six votes were recorded for the proposal and three against. Mr Wj Hogg was returning officer.

Further particulars of the Maori prophecy that failed, regarding 'the threatened destruction of Whakarewarewa, come from Rotorua today. It was an old chief named Te Araki who created the scare. He is a "matakite," or seer, and is iv ihe habit of dreaming sensations. The old man said that in a dream he looked towards Whakarewarewa and saw all the people in gala flreaa, and as he gazed there was a. violent earthquake shock, and a great black cloud gathered over the hills until the whole place was enveloped in darkness. He looked towards Rotorua. and there was brightness there, and he called to the people of Rotorxia nn& said, "Jjet us go to Whakarewarewa and see how it fares with my children," and the people of Rotorua refused, as they were afraid. He then went b3 r himself; though the hot stones were falling and the earth quaking, he persisted until he reached Waimangio (the Alum Creek), which was now a deep chasm extending over to the foot of Moerangi; the latter was filled with fire and vomited -forth stones, and the place whereon Whakarewarewa had stood was gone; and the people were not there. He wept for his lost children, and, while weeping, awoke and told his family, who insisted that he should go at once and warn the people of the doomed village. This he did, with the result that many of the natives left Whakarewarewa on .Thursday night last and went to Parekarangi,

" Mi , Greshaal,"" coroner* held aai inquest •*at tJae hospital on Saturday touching the death of Louie Voil Rotter, who died at the hospital yesterday morning. Deoeased was found in an unconscious state by Constable Wade in the Colonial Bank Buildings on Wednesday, and never recovered congciausnees. Bernard Von'Hotter, son of deceased, gaye evidence as to identification. His father was 68 years of age, and he last saw him alive at ten o'clock on Wednesday morning, when deceased was -perfectly well. Deceased had no troubles that witness knew of. About six months ago deceased had a fit, and was told that another attack would be a very serious matter. Dr. Horsfall, of the hospital staff, said the condition of deceased's eyes was consistent with atropine poisoning. The full contents of the bottle produced (labelled atropine) would be sufficient to cause death. Dr. Girdler, who perfomed the post mortem examination, said there were no marks of violence on the body. The heart was slightly enlarged and slightly fatty. There were conditions in the eyes, lungs, and heart, which might have been due to drugs such as belladona- or atropine. The brain was perfectly, healthy, and there was no evidence of apoplexy. There was nothing in the organs or in the brain to account for death. W. B. Hall, chemist, deposed to selling deceased a bottle of atropine on October 2nd, deceased , signing the poisons' book. Deceased said he wanted it to poison a dog. Deceased was well-known to witness for many years. At this stage the inquiry was adjourned to allow of an analysis of the contents of the stomach being made.

The Police Court sat at 9.30 o'clock this morning , instead of 10.30, owing to it being- St. Andrew's Bay. Messrs. A. S. Russell and J. S'hipherd were the presiding justices. Several cases against persons charged with, drunkenness were adjourned until tomorrow, owing to the accused being out-oil bail, and not knowing to attend at the earlier hour. One first offender was ' fined 5/ and costs. James Thomas Trueman, for being drunk "while in charge of "a vehicle in New North-road, was fined 40/, in default one month. Joseph Reynolds; alias Morran, charged with having attempted to steal property from the person of some one, name unknown, was remanded until the sth, bail being allowed in two suretes of £50 each.

An important statement by the Premier with reference to land settlement in the North Island is published on page G of- this issue. Although "there has not been as much rain as usual this spring, still it is gratifying to know that there is an ample supply of water at Nihotilpu, with a good quantity running to waste at present over the lip of the dam.

A Christmas tree and sale of work will take place at St. David's Hall, Khyber Pass, next Wednesday and Thursday afternoons ■ and evenings. A large variety of work has been got together, both useful and ornamental A feature will be the Japanese stall, while interesting competitions for ladies and gentlemen have 'been arranged. The proceeds are towards liquidating debt caused through removal and re-erection of the church and school on the fine site it now occupies in Khyber Pass. The sale will be opened by the Rev. W. Gray Dixon on Wednesday. The Central Boating Companyj of which Mr James Reid is manager, launched from their building yard, Breakwater-road, near the Wynyard Pier, last week a 35ft x 7ft 6in launch, fitted with a 6 h.p. oil-engine, for Mr H. Hughes, , of the French Pass. The craft is diagonal built, with schooner bow and counter stern. The company has a 22ft diagonal launch, fitted with 2 h.p. oil-engine, just off the stocks for the same owner, also an 18>ft launch, fitted with 2 h.p. oilengine, for Hokianga, and on the stocks a 28ft launch, fitted with a 4 h.p. oil-eng-ine, for Mr L. A. Jourdam, of Kawhia. Among the launches lately turned out by the company were: 33ft launch, 7ft 6in beam, fitted with a 5 h.p. engine, for MacLeod and Phipps, of Orr.ehunga; a 28ft x 7ft Gin launch, fitted with"4 h.p. "engine, for Mr Cunningham, of North Shore; and a 2fo x oft launch, fitted with a 2 h.p. oil-engine, for Mr J. Kirk, of Warkworth. Three oil launches were put out of the shed to-day, and another will be launched towards the end of the week.

Last nig-lit the Theosophical Society's Hall was crowded to hear Miss A. E. Davidson's lecture on "The Judgment Day." Before the lecturs Mr B. Kent gave a very tasteful rendering of Wagner's "To the Evening Star."

Mr. Louis Lewis desires us to call special attention to an important, auction sale of valuable up-to-date house furnishings, at the residence of Mr, A. T. H. Pittar, "Burwood," Hobson's Bay, Remuera, on Thursday and Friday, 4th and sth insts., when wiU be offered billiard-table, piano, ponies, hunter, cow, pony, trap and harness, etc. Special 'buses will- run as per advertisement. The sale commences each day at 11 o'clock. . . .. *

At Messrs. Sanruel Vaile and Sons' auction on Saturday the property at Arney-road, Remuera, was sold for £1700; a house in Franklin-road brought £425, and two in the same street £780. There was a good attendance and fair competition.