The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1919. SAVING GERMANY FROM ANARCHY

Taranaki Daily News, 22 January 1919, Page 4

The Daily News. WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 1919. SAVING GERMANY FROM ANARCHY

IT the victory of the Allies over the Central Powers results iu the demoralisation of Germany, so much the greater will that victory be adjudged. They entered into and prosecuted the war in the interests of freedom and justice, end having succeeded in their object, thev naturally desire that their late enemies may participate in the great boon which has been secured through their efforts. There is no hankering after .vengeance, though pun-

ishment must be inflicted on the country and the guilty criminals it produced. In view of Germany's responsibilities for compensation, reparation and restoration, as well as in the interests of a durable peace it i 3 desirable that there should be a reliable and sane Government in that country. For a time it seemed as if the anarchial forces that have mm such a wreck oL" Russia would accomplish similar work in Germany, but if any reliance can be placed on recent cabled messages there seems to have been a turn of the tide, and the Spartacusites admit that their "bloody game" is lost, though they boast that they will renew operations as soon as they are ready. It would seem there is now a prospect of a meeting of the National Assembly, and that will be the first step to the inauguration of democratic government. Thereby alone can Germany be saved from anarchy, and for that the world will be thankful. Spartacusism in Germany is the equivalent of Bolshevism in Russia^—cold-blooded civil war and sanguinary internal strife. In both cases it was a revolt against law and order, with the result that it delayed, by its reckless and impossible policy, the formation of a Government with whom the Allies could treat at the Peace Conference. To Russia that aspect of the situation may be of little account, though had she settled down to form and maintain a stable administration it would have been greatly to her interest. To Germany, the speedy advent of a settlement would be facilitated. She would know how she stood as to carrying out her responsibilities and could then seriously get to work on the great task of internal reconstruction and rehabilitation. Spartacusian predominance meant a reign of terror and bloodshed, but a democratised Germany controlled by the people through a National Assembly would inevitably lead to future greatness and prosperity and, it is to be hoped, result in the inculcation of a more humane and peaceful spirit. The Spartacusian movement came into operation early in the war in the shape of propaganda by means'of pamphlets signed '' Spartacus,'' which were circulated among a carefully chosen circle of confidential correspondents, and there are grounds for assuming that the firebrand Liebknecht was the pivot of the organisation. His aim was to bring about a class war—the aim of the Bolsheviks. His arrest and imprisonment followed, and it would have been better for Germany had he remained in confinement. Fanatical extremists like Lenin and Liebknecht are like torches over powder magazines. They care not what happens so long as they can commit the wildest excesses, so that when the time came when Berlin was at the mercy of these revolutionaries they made the most of the opportunity. Fortunately the masses, including the returning soldiers, would not support this upheaval. It was inevitable that the transition from military despotism to a sane democracy should be marked by sanguinary outbursts of violence, hatred and bloodshed. The intense regression connected with Kaiserism and Imperialism was bound to find a vent, and it is satisfactory to learn that the bursting of the dam has been followed by such comparatively little damage. Since the Kaiser quitted Berlin there ha 3 been a nominal Government in existence with Herr Ebert at its head, but it lias been so far of little avail in face of the violence of the Spartacusians. At last there appears to be a more favorable outlook as the Government seems to be genuinely desirous of bringing the National Assembly into existence, and is talcing strong measures to enable the elections to take place. It is only to he expected that there will be more or less rioting over these elections, but that will not matter so long as they are held. Brute force has for so long been worshipped in Germany that it will take time to convince the people of its utter failure as a means of securing a democratic constitution. In the past Germany has been dominated by rorce under a system of iron despotism that brought all things into its service for the selfish ends of her rulers and war lords, but now her permanent safety and well being are at stake. The people have within their grasp the means of freedom, from tyranny and the opportunity for self-go-vernment. It would be sheer madness on their part if they did not rise to the occasion and trample •on the forces of anarchy. The salvation and future progress and prosperity of Germany c-nn only be obtained by treading the path of canity and rational liberty, and the first step in that direction is through the portals of the Nalional Assembly, .iikl if Ebert succeeds in inifi'iliec tb-il I democratic formation. I,* 7,'i1l deserve weil of Ms eorntrv.