THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, JUNE 4, 1906.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXIX, Issue 8153, 4 June 1906, Page 4

THE Wairarapa Age MORNING DAILY. MONDAY, JUNE 4, 1906.

In La JRevne E. Keybel has a study of the Democratic evolution of Germany, The writer notes that in the year 1905 a wave of unrest and reform has passed, over most European States, bat Germany alone has not seemed to stir. He gives various reasons for the apparent passiveness of the German people, suggesting that they may not have become sufficiently discontented to move or that their patience is not yet quite exhausted. Beer and alcohol, «he writer thinks, have probably had much to do with keeping the people loyal. Not that I they are habitual drunkards, but that the daily drinking causes I lethargy of mind and body. Ano-

iher factor ia religious sentiment, and a third is the fact that the Germans hare not hitherto taken so active an Interest in political events as the people of most other countries have done. Nevertheless there are indications of a democratic awakening. The old Prussian discipline in the army has broken down, and the soldier will no longer stand being treated as an inferior being, but rebels against the brutality of bis superiors. Everywhere a certain independence towards authority is manifesting itself. Electoral contests are more spirited, and strikes and other popular movements are on the increase. Among other general onuses of democratic progress may be mentioned the spread of popular education, the establishment of libraries, popular theatres, reading clubs, music clubs, etc Thus the man of the people is gradually beginning to think of other things than his daily life; his horizon being widened, he wants to know what is goiug on in the world. Before 1870 Germany was an agricultural country, but since that date the Germans have become more and more industrial., In a word, the German people have raised their material and moral condition, especially in the towns; but as all progress is oostly the working classes have to pay higher rents, and consequently they demand higher wages, and henoe many of the strikes. The feudal world, which lived on the land, has been crushed by the young industrial bourgeoisie. As it is the workers of the towns and great industrial centres who have transformed England into a democratic State, the industrial development of Germany is the most potent factor in German democratic evolution. The democratic evolution, however, is not manifested in an equal degree in all parts of the German Empire. It is much more accentuated in the south, and in the west, than in the northeast, and the States; of the south and west are muoh morje advanced , than Prussia. Nearly all the democrats are from the southern and westerQ States. Still, the democratic evolution is very real. The drawback is that Prussia, the heart of the Empire, remains reactionary, while the democratic regions are the provinces. Nevertheless, the triumph of democracy in Germany is certain. It has already attacked the army j and the bureauoraoy. The spirit of revolt is growing among the people; J orimes of lese-majesty are more common; religious sentiment has disappeared in the towns, and is disappearing in the country districts; and the masses are beginning to play an active part in political life. A new democratic Germany is at hand.