AFFAIRS IN GERMANY.

Observer, Volume XXXII, Issue 21, 3 February 1912, Page 2

AFFAIRS IN GERMANY.

Socialists to the Front. are not in the confidence of ft the Kaiser Wilhelm, but weimagine that he is not exactly delighted at the great development in the Socialist vote in his military-ridden country. The first ballots in the German elections have given the Socialists an immense lead. They polled more than a third of the total votes cast, and, asthe Kadical and National Liberals, also polled very strongly, it is evident that the spirit of reform and protest against excessive militarism and monarchical despotism has made vast strides since the previous elections. The Conservatives polled less, than a tenth of the total votes registered- It looks very much as if theold domineering aristocratic Prussian element were doomed to take a. very far-back seat in the politics of the Fatherland. • • • The extraordinary advance madeby the Socialist Party in Germany isnot difficult to account for. The policy of repression of free speech, and free writing, the dragooning of the people by the Emperor's troops,, the swagger and bounce of the military caste, the ridiculous "Me-und-Gott " speeches of the head of thenation, the grievous burdens of military and naval expenditure, havepassed beyond all bearable limits. The new force makes for peace, for a curbing of the military high horse,, for a less aggressive attitude towards, foreign Powers. The aristocrats and; the Army have carried things with; a truculent hand in the past, but: they will have to mend their manners now. Also, the Kaiser will bewise to refrain from harping so insistently upon his divine rights-

There will be fewer prosecutions for "lese majeste." These, at any rate, are some of the results that may be expected to flow from the infueion of the new spirit in the Reichstag. Indirectly, it should be a relief to England!), for /bhe . war-at-any-prfce party in the land of the Kaiser haareceived a very substantial check