The Chronicle LEVIN. FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 1916.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 9 June 1916, Page 2

The Chronicle LEVIN. FRIDAY, JUNE 9, 1916.

THE GERMAN EMPEKOii. liie sangfroid with which tJie Emperor of Germany thanked God by more miplicxitiozij while giving personally his own thanks to the German .Navy tor lte recont and most noteworthy achievement, is an amusing proof of the survival in Emperor Wilhetin of that fooling ol supreme self-importance that made hi 6 youthlul utterances remarkable in tliu eyes o. Europe. irreverent commentators the world over Mere wont to joke and jibe at Kaiser iihelm's more or lees |(generally more) familiar references to the Deity, and ihe matter once was sum wed up in a phrase that attributed to the ii-aiser the sentiment and classification of "Aie and God.'' His latest speech falls .short of some of the heights of presumption reached by him in hio youth, but it is noteworthy for something almost is remarkable: it discloses the autocratic viewpoint of the man in In* capacity as sup:eme ruler of Germany s millions. ' 'God Almigkty steeled your arms," said the Emperor to his seamen, "and kept your eyes clear; but I, as your (supreme War Lord, thank you from tiie bottom oi my heart, in the name of the Fatherland. ' The words oonwy a great deal ni re than their face value to . those who read their basic inspiration: th y .sp:ing from the deep-seated belief of the German Emperor in Iho old fallacy ting (flu do no wrong," and that the duty of every subject is to earrv out his king's behests without demur. To our mind, it is this very belief, seduously cultivated in Germany for years past, that is responsible for the world-turmoil o! the preent tim>. it is the toler- j ation of this idea by the witting ones now in high places that lies enmeshed the whole people of Germany in their present way—and inTiflhe reflex of * his position all the Great Powers are involved. The day happily has gone fcy wherein any great percentage of the people of the British Empire adhere to this old formula ot governance, but only a hundred years or two separate ; üb© in that reepeot, from"the Germany ' of j It is iff a recognition of the great ' danger inherent in "the right divine of j kings—to govern wrong" that in season and out of season we would insist ]

upon the need for every endeavour being put forth and sustained to defeat the expansionist policy of the German War L< rdi and ins abettors— wiliting and un'filling. The-world, to our min J, ma/ progl-ess as well undei a limited ■ monarchy as un.er a republican form of tjovernmei:,,, ilid vice versa; there is as much liberty in France to-day as in England and tlio bases of tho lib rties lie deeper than the manifestation of monarchy or republicanism seen at the head. it is thi> collective idea voiced by tie body politic, and the measure of the general earnestness with which reforms are stiiven for in times ol peace, that make for permanent improvement and advancement. England has progressed will by virtue of this; and though she and we have tar to go theie is 110 forbidding bar to such progress, as there is in the case of Germany. The triumph of Germany in the war low being waged would be % sad achievement when viewed in the light of the world's advancement. Beneiicient laws for the minimisation l of unemploy ment, and the giving oi good education, Germany has in a degree equal to or exceeding our own; but of wtaat avail are the e to a man who is in perpetual risk of being dragged Tom his peaceful employ to wage * war of aggression, and in a cause tliat he may feei to be despicable. LEVIN TELEPHONE EXCHANGE. Levins telephone subscribers' list aow has reached the vicinity of 100, and) il another half-dozen subscribers could be got there would be a surety of the hours of exchange being exteiyled. Nominally, a town-is entitled to liare telephone communication up to 10 p.m. when its list passes the hundred, EuTt in practice it is desi:abio to tefflire a margin of half-a-dozen extra sab scribers before the extension be made, so that there will he no risk of losing the privilege through the withdrawal of one or two of the subscribers. There are many advantages" attaching to the <"itension of telephone exchange hours and no doubt an attempt will be made tj secure a few extra subscribers for+.H with