"AUTOCRACY MUST GO.”

Manawatu Herald, Volume XL, Issue 1896, 29 October 1918, Page 2

"AUTOCRACY MUST GO.”

TllK New York Times demands the removal ol' Ihe whole liohenzollern dynasty, ami says 1h a I il makes no difference which liohenzollern is on (he throne. “The llohenzollerns have jinule Europe an unpleasant pla.ee to live in for more than 150 years, Berlin must give up the idea, of appeasing the Allies by Kaiserism, which would continue the Hohenzoliern tradition.’’ We do not want: a liohenzollern, old, young, or infantile,” the Times stales. This sums up the general feeling of the Allies in regard to the continuance of the rilling house of Germany. If, am has been suggested, (he grandson of the Kaiser, the boy William Frederick, became the nominal Emperor it would still be. the House of Jlohenzollern with its sinister inlluence. No doubt it would also be supported, and dominated, by the same ruling caste who forced the war and its awful horrors upon Urn world. “Autocracy must: go,” has been the verdict of Allied leaders. It must not be again possible for one man and his confederates to slowly and surely prepare a great army for, and inspire a people with world conquest. The surest and most lasting way of disposing of this menace is as President Wilson has so often indicated, for the German people to set nil a constitutional democratic Government. Although Germany has been (he hotbed of European socialism, and in spite of the great voting power Socialists exercised, little has been done to democratise the constitution. During tin* long regime of Prince von Endow as Chancellor, that astute and oily diplomat did all in his power to enhance the power of the dynasty and to stem the rising tide of democracy. Lacking the ability of von Endow, his successors have been pliant tools in the hands of the Kaiser. The result has been that Prussian officialism and (he Pan-German element have become more and more deeply entrenched in (heir privileges and power. This position of vantage (hey will not lightly sacrifice. It was. this section we are told thatrefused to accept the inevitable and allow the Kaiser to abdicate, as he is said to have desired to do. This seems'to he borne out from the summary of the lex! of Germany’s latest reply to President Wilson. It is staled that the German note draws attention to the alterations in the Gon.-tiiuiion, and repudiates outside interference, since Germany has the right of self-determination-. This, of course, is transparent bluff and deception. The alterations leave the same old Potsdam Gang in control, and the right of self-determi-nation here spoken of is that of this ‘‘crew” that has drenched the world in human blood. Xo doubt President Wilson will point out that the self-determination he refers to is the government of the. people by Ihe people for the people, Xothing but lasting evil would come from making peace with the small hut dominant section that now controls and probably misrepresents the great majority of the German people.