NOT READY FOR REVOLUTION.

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 6, Issue 292, 13 July 1917, Page 2 (Supplement)

NOT READY FOR REVOLUTION.

.Most of us have seen pictures of Belgian deportees bending beneath the German lash. But if perchance some cf m; have conceived a mental uicture or the masses of Germany in a somewhat similar lelative position to their authorities, we are advised by Mr D. Tlios. Curtin, the author of "'The Land of the Deepening Shadow " to get rid of it. It is not, he says, a real pietare—it is only a mirage. He asserts iliat the idea that the German people are a down-trodden mass forced ag-ain-t their wishes to take up arms and continuing to use those arms simply because a few men. known as the Government, will that they shall do so, is in dinvt contradiction to the facts of the case. He grants that the Geiinans are distressingly sick of the war. A.s a swift and happy means of building up a Teutonic world-empire it has not come up to expectations. The majority of German-, however, are not dissatisfied with their Government tiecause of this. But as to the violent speeches in the Reichstag, and the assiimpt'cn that they show a dangerous discontent, and prove that the German prop!.'' are against their form of Government. .Mr. Cnrtin points out that there are 307 Deputies in tho Reichstag, and that of these only 18 (less than five per cent.) are openly arrayed against the war policy. They constitute the Social Democratic Minority; it is their speeches, together with an occasional one from the So'ial Democratic Majority, which make such pleasant reading ill certa'n sections of the Allied Press. More people read these speeches in England than in Germany, where tor the most part they are made to empty benches, printed only in the Social Democratic Press, and even there in unobtrusive parliamentary type without "feature" headings, since thoso must be reserved, as in all other papers, for Gorman victories. Furthermore, they are seldom read by soldiers, as the military scissors are extremely sharp in deleting anything that may prove injurious to the helmcted 'mind. The Social Democratic Majority, although keeping an eye on electoral reform, are solidly behind the war machine. In fact, were he not aware of their party affiliations, Mr. Curtin says he would have mistaken some ef them with whom he talked for dyed-in-the-wool Conservatives. Most of them display the customary German weakness of prostrating themselves at the feet of the men higher up if they show them a little personal consideration. Not a few of them have been as wildly enthusiastic over a conquering Fatherland as the most sabre-rattling Junker. One of them, who in peace days told Mr. Curtin that he would oppose the war party as long as he lived, confessed to him after three months of war that he and his kind were wrong in criticising the military form of Government. "Look at France," he said. "France is a republic, and see how we are beating her." From the revolutionary point of view the Germans might be divided into three classes. To Class I. belong tho leaders, the semi-deified army officer and professor, «tnd the great men of business. Class 11. contains the hulk of the people. Class 111. contains tho IS revolutionary extremists in tho Reichstag and a small minority of the population, certainly not more than 20 per cent. This class has already tried to revolt, but a police system of revolver, sword and machine gun, espionage and preventive arrest,, lias rendered iill attempts futile. It is obvious that there can be no hope of a revolution until Class 111. wins the support of Class 11. But the latter despises the former and seeks to curry favour with Class 1., from which it also derives its ready-made ideas. In other words, Mr. Curtin says that when Eng--I'sh-speaking people express a belief that the Germans will follow the Russians and overturn thair autocracy, they are simply declaring what they, in their advanced political enlightenment, would do if they were in the position of the Germans. In Germany not more than 20 per cent of the people are thus enlightened, and it is important to note that they are the least influential members of society. He adds: "When you hear that the Germans are about to throw aside their objectionable institutions, remember that for three generations a belief in those institutions has been bred in their very marrow. The German is grafted to the tree of State at the age of four, and rarely does he fad to grow more linn./ into the fibre of the wood with each succeeding year. Because ygy would not care to live under the Kaiser, it does not follow that the Germans are beginning of leel the same way. The Germans love their ccuntry, an.l they are ardent students of it;s history a, revealed to them by then professors —men v. ho always write with the hone of official approval. That is why their glorious history, a- they see it, is the history o; the House o: llohciizolleni

— llu* axis of the (uTinan v orld, the ( lily wuriil worth while. I believe that tlic U.Tmai' peopb will sooner or late;;et (viii-litiilioiial 11 • o;loin, thanks t.) Allied .ion-, hut 1 can conceive m.t'imore s.i to tlie average German iiiiinl than the mereM ' ion tlia': 11i<\v slio-iM depose the K.ii--.■r." In .Mr. (.'in tin's (.pinion, thee i mi In' lin hope ol' !, r rniiine reform in (n rniaiiy until an overw hehum.L r majority real so and admit the ali-unlity of their present, belief that their cntiiitiy, altir exhaust every possible I'.i an- ol keeping tin- peat e, was l'orc\| to del» Mil lui'-' il' a 1.'.1111-1 a riii:; of je.il mis enemies. That delusion is the h.Hilda' lon-stniie upon which tin- (lov- ( in men t have rear, d t heir w hole rant e -1 rii't up' of i a 1 -i •! 11 »i ji I. l'cople will I• l.! . equally hai'il lor tin ir beliefs u hi i her i I (i I chefs l>.- or aii'l mil il tlis is toin away w.o combination ol' nil lion <.f 1...i!i11y eo ..In nt iin 1 iisirial human aiiN I'll, t lim all th« ir fait h in a >. t of iiii- - riipiilou-ly aniliiti hi- 1 :idi-r-. will < II l ill 111- In he ;i lireliraml 111 tile .) t ety nf nation-. This -tone is -o lirin-

ly set that it cannot be moved until Germany is forced to admit tliat slio is defeated. "While the majority of the Germans wiiine at the British blockade of the German stomach, they delight in their own Government's blockade of the German mind. If a 'neutral' tomes to England from Germany, lie is asked by everyone he meets: 'How are things really there?" Heverse the proceeding, and the average German v.ould not tlunk of seeking information. He would explain the whole situation. Only ideas with the made-in-Germany label are gooj enough fo" him." As to the on trance of the United Starts, Mr. Curtin considers it will have 110 immediate effect of depression upon :he German people. Since the first winter nf tile war they have been oituated to th.e belief that America lias been doing practically all she could against them. During the " Sussex"' crisis of a year ago, the people wo-? almost unanimous for unlimited su'imarining, whether America came in 01 not. At that tune one of the few great eilitois in Germany said to Mr. Cut in, "Our Governni' nt may yieid ti the I"111• <. 11 Stitis this time, but homier or laler. unless ou;- enemies ronii' to terms, unrestricted warfare will he ordered. Not <.llly do Count I'evolith.w :.lid h.is party believe tlia: through it we 'an win hut our Government are in the awkward position of having educated mote than H) pT cent oi our people to be'ieve mat our L'-ho;its can defeat any combination i f t'liiinii-s if we us<> tlioui without scruple. We have got to th" point whe e it would lv a calamity to the spirit cf resistance of our people if they felt lh..t the war is being rocdle.-sly prolonged, or that they are sinking to iVf'su while this weapon is bring held liek." 'l'iir point Mr. Curtin emphasis. •< is that ihe l'"righ;fu!iie-s War is the People'-, War ill Germany. "Hold out, and the submarne will bring Kngiand down," is their motto. While th -y believe this- and iu his opinion they Will brieve it for a loag tune yet - ihev wi I nor rise in rr\ o'i. 11 is con-

i- t'iat a lilt '' 'linoenoiis — latl' n miv I' ' pas-inl in their favour i a -up to t lie'r sac; iliee-, I.lit the II iheiiZiilien.- Mill not ;o the way of tlir Kon. molls for the pusillt.