THE PRUSSIAN YOKE

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 241, 6 July 1920, Page 5

THE PRUSSIAN YOKE

: ,_ SPARTACISM AIMED AT DESTRUCTION OF JUNKER AN ALSATIAN'S WARNING "Uncle" Hansi is the best beloved and most (rusted of Alsatians among thera.fielves. writes a foreign correspondent of the. New York "Evening Post." He is perhaps the most detested by the Germans who settled down'in Alsace, be-' cause he drew them in pictures so kind and yet so cruel. He is still kind in his appreciation of men and thines known to him as to few others. Whatever others may think of the situation in Germany, this is his belief: ,

"In all sincerity, I believe that French opinion, as a whole, is making a bad mistake, in its appreciation of what it is agreed to call German Bolshevism. There is a risk that the anti-Bolshevist phobia may keep us from understanding an anti-militarist and democratic movewhich miirht be capable of purging Germany of her imperialism and freeing her from the yoke of Prussia. Germany is not dangerous without-Prussia. And Prussia is dangerous only from her junkers and great landowners, who have a considerable influence in the Army and the Government.

"We ought, not to lot ourselves make a mistake about this. Spartucism aims at. the destruction of the Junker, the real microbe of war, by destroying his property. First and foremost. Spartacfsin is anti-militarist. Its fruits in Germany will be to disarm Prussia by doing away with the caste which let loose universal war. The dividing up of nobles' estates, called "Eittcrgut" or knights' lands, has nothing that should alarm Western democracies. In Bavaria, Wurteml>erg, Baden; and even in Saxony, the land is divided up in as small properties as it If? in France. Bolshevism finds tho people indifferent there. It is with Bavarians, Wurtembergers, and tho people of Baden and Saxony that _we must come to an understanding—against Prussia, The Junker—that is the enemy. Tf Spnrtacism can rid Prussia of him it will do a great service to Germany and the world. "The history of Germany in the last century 6hows a democratic movement in the states of the south which was always combated by the states of the I north. The German revolution of 18*3 is a most striking exanipleof this enduring' opposition. The wind of liberty rose on tho Rhino and swiftly reached the south of Geunany. The Prussian army brutally brought back the old order. Prussia shot or banished the liberators. She sot up again, everywhere. the rule of monarchy supported by the oligarchy of Junkers, and these after 1871 held the Emperor a prisoner of their aggressive policy. "For France and her Allies it would be the worst of follies to support the spirit of reaction against tho spirit of revolution in Germany. The present constitutional government of Eba't has no real existence. Its balance is unstible. and it has to lean to Eight or to Left. It will be either this? Prussian Extreme Right or the Gorman Extreme Left. "The present hatred of German workmen and poasants against the army is nothing elsg than tho hatred of Germany against Prussia, who threw her into tho tragic adventure of war.

"Isn't it strange—now that separatist tendencies are showing themselves in Germany—that wo should seem to make it our business to reconstruct and protect against tho Germans themselves that German unity which must always be against peace—that is, against us? "Perhaps we are afraid that these troubles may delay the execution of the treaty. Such fear seems idle. It is all tho more so that Germany, after a first rose-water revolution leaving her military timbers and her monarchist framework to her, 'has manifested tho worst will possible to fulfil her engagements."

Thus far Hansi. He is not a diplomat or a soldier and' he was not invited to tho Poaco Conference. That is no reason why his words of oaution should not bo heeded.