The North Otago Times MONDAY, JULY 16, 1917. ANOTHER BASTILLE TOTTERS.

North Otago Times, Volume CV, Issue 13933, 16 July 1917, Page 4

The North Otago Times MONDAY, JULY 16, 1917. ANOTHER BASTILLE TOTTERS.

It is deeply significant that the celebrations on Saturday of flie. t'all , ..of ..Bastille ami the triumph of the democratic forces in France should synchronise with the announcement- that the J Kaiser has promised 1 electoral reforms to/Prussia, to.the consternation of the' Pan-Germans and the worshipers of autocracy; the cable messages adding significantly that "the Kaiser and the Crown Prince linve been compelled to surrender.to, popular opinion." On the 14th. July 1789, the Bus- \ tille fell aiid the French Republic was born. To-day the whole forces of'the world's democracies are arrayed against another Bastille— of reaction, autocracy and tyranny: GeriUan miiita'ry¥iilH' 'ls the stnifetiiit'tbtj' •tcring before the pressure, of the forces Ayithoiit .and tho ; jiersistent • demands of those within? Some .few days.ago the British nation and our .gallant Allies celebrated the entry of America into tlie war, not merely because the declaration of America meant a new and 1 powerful Ally, but because her attitude confirmed our faith in the rational order'of tile universe, that faith which the power and doctrine of Germany challenged. To-day the will of the free peoples of the earth asserts itself, and the nations are in league not for revenge or in a blood feud against one who has threatened them all, but to thrust the German doctrine back into the past, and'to prove to the German people themselves that the Assyri.anism of Germany does not pay, and that it is not scientific but very obsolete. The whole of the , world has combined against the strongest outlaw. It is admitted that we were not sure of America's true feelings towards the outlaw of Europe, so long as she remained at peace with -Germany, America,, in her power and her distance from the struggle, represented the neutral world', looking on, perhaps, with some disdain at'a conflict between two parties'of EiU'Ope,"h conflict apparently not different from former ones on the same blood-soaked soil. But now America, foremost among the world's democracies, realises that the iilliance between Great 'Britain;rnjcl; thesher mg against'Gerniany is not merely one combination against the other, not Outer Europe against Cjwtral Europe; but the instrument of the will, the conscience, the hopes of mankind .against-a criminal-. •• In saying this the friends of liberty, chivalry and justice do not mean to.flatter the United States. The impartial spectator of a quarrel is not iiece'Ssarily superior .to those ; engaged in it. However, America has sealed the fate of Ka-iserism and the'dethronement of militarism and autocracy is certain, for President Wilson, as the standard bearer of world, democracy, has created a new spirit among the' Allies. '.Germany realises the dangei of tlie spread of the knowledge, that Groat Britain, America,"and the other Allies are not at war witn the German people, but are determined to destroy autocracy. Hence tlie-new-battle ci'jv of "No peace with the Ilohenzollerns" which reverboratos throughout tlie world. It is interesting.'to note that the German prfes is tit' some pains to explain that the cbncessioiv tev popular opinion must not be considered' as the result of Mr ,Lloyd George's recent speeches. It is Further explained; that a majority fy.tlie Reiciistag brought pressure' to bfiAiV (>n . tire' Government 'by 'threatening to refuse to pass enormous'credits,. until the;.;; reforms 1 were granted. The Gfermai press,

l of course, does not stay, to tell .us ut li) a majority in tlm hould liavy suddenly 'determined to seem e electoral i etoi ins, gyen at the nslt of holding up war credits. Unquestionably,' .tne political situatibn iii Gormany.is inovijig with bewildering rabidity •' Not only if; popular opinion eoMijlsing the very throne, of the llohonzolleriia, but pan-German lie : ing sent Into oblivion i:(th ! Kaiser has been compelled to' to the demands of the democratic agitation to grant electoral 1 cotieessions r tlms ■•modifying the pre-, wiiiis decision that informs -mould, only operate after ; the war.. In very'tiiith another Bastille is tottering'to its full. The' war-weaiy j masses'of the German nation are beginning to" realise that, their enemies are fighting to ensure that alien nations shall not be enslaved, and'the rights, of the great'and small nations' of the world; including Germany, shall be; established upon an unassailable foundation; jbe Allies' te fighting to save- a world of men, and not of, nations; They' have learned' too well that when nations light, it is men who. idie, and women who are widowed, and .children ,who are lSft fatherless.- In short the armed forces of. the Allies are engaged in a war against war, and the German people will some day share the peace and security, coming with the new birth of freedom which the war will bring to the world;' The German people are beginning to realise the folly of putting their trust in militarism and autocracy and they are becoming restless and impatient that the dawn of the' new day f breaks so slowly, through the lowering clouds and, the. terrifying thunders of a world at war.