The Timaru Herald. SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 1917. THE FIGHT AGAINST ABSOLUTISM.

Timaru Herald, Volume CVI, Issue 16310, 11 August 1917, Page 6

The Timaru Herald. SATURDAY, AUGUST 11, 1917. THE FIGHT AGAINST ABSOLUTISM.

Messages which report tlie.activities of Herr Schiedemami, leader of the German Majority Socialists, credit Mm with, two programmes, which must be considered incompatible- Ostensibly, at least, he is opposed to absolutism, since he demands the speedy creation of a Government really representing the people's will. But the speech in which that demand was made, at Mannheim, is described as part of an "Imperialistic propag-anda." A man may be a Democrat in Geitmany and still be as truculent as_ the Junkers, at least when thing-s are proinsr well, but the man who talks of democratic institutions while he works for Kaiserdom must be supposed to have a foot in both camps. The Kaiser certainly cannot complain that he lias not been well sunnorterl by Herr Schiedemann and his followers in all essential matters. and, whatever may be the real views -of the Socialist leader towards absolutism, there is no doubt that, at the present time in Germnnv. absolutism re.irrns supreme. Charlies in the Ministry- have affected it not one whit. TVdWlier absolutism f.r democracv shall lire vail in "Rnmoo and throuchont the world is the real i«?"o Ihe war. and in Thirone it Ims been an issu» for a hundr«<7 vpni-s. Tt was "Rismnrolc who lrrolonped for despotism its ascemlancv when a spirit 'if revolt snreaclinjr throuali most "European countries fifty years a<?o, and hp made 110 secret, ol his creed. A writer in ihe "Tlnnrnl Table" recalls the famous sneech in which it was enunciated by I>im in ihe Pvnssinn 'Assemhlv on Afjirr-h 2:lvd. IS4O :

"T'ho strife oi' principles which during this year lias shaken T'lirope to its immdations is one in which no compromise is possible. They rest, on opposite bases. The 0110 draws its law from what is called the will of the people, in truth, however, from the law of the strongest on the barricades. The other rests on authority created by God. 011 authority by the grace of God. . . . The decision on these principles will not come by parliamentary debate, not by majorities of eleven rotes; sooner or Inter the God who directs the batt-le will cast his iron dice."

It was -with this simple creed, we are reminded, of " gaverxunent by divine right bestowed by the God of ]iatiles —or. in plain words, hereditary military despot ismthai Hismarck confronted the three great problems of ]iis political life —the government ol' Prussia, the union of Germany, and the balance of power in Europe. 1 ' Tie described the first issue himself as beiii"' whether the House of llolienzollerii or the

House of Parliament should rule in Prussia, and, after democratic aspirations had been killed in Prussia, he took care that that State should be predominant in the German Empire. Despotic Prussia has IT of the 58 votes in the Budesrat, or Federal Council. Amendments to the Constitution are lost if fourteen votes are cast in the negative. If opinion is divided 011 questions relating to the army, the navy, the tariff, etc., the Prussian vote is decisive if cast in favour of no change. In. the event of a tie the Prussian vote decides.. Having endeared despotic government to the Germans bj the three successful wars ■which he conducted, he set himself to buttress absolutism in Europe by the alliance of the three despotic Powers, Germany, Russia, and Austria. Russia, however, drifted into the French orbit, the influence of which wa:s opposed to despotism, and encouraged tendencies that led to the Revolution of this year. Only at the Russian Court were the ideas of Bismarck able to persist. r A mistake was made also by the alliance with Italy- That could not endure, the Italians being a free people, though Bismarck always spoke of the alliance as a dynastic one. Bismarck thought that the struggle between absolutism and democracy had been ended by him, and it was, until too rashly it was revived by despotism three years ago, causing- the whole world to he divided in a. conflict in which the defeat of 'despotism, though it may still be far off. Is sure. The battle is 'one which Englishmen have fought time and as"ain on their own account. " Step by sfep and word by word; who

is ruled may read, Suffer not the old Kings—.for we know the ibreecl." I\ T ow they are fighting it on the world's account, allies, all tiie free nations.