Show the future of germany no one can prophesy the future ol 01 germany but so much at least seems clear that it will largely depend on the course pursued by the socialists three alternatives seem open to them they may indefinitely continue their present opposition to the government and then they can only bo a source of weakness or they may absorb the empire transforming it nto a feudal state fatal to liberty and therefore unstable or they may in return for certain timely concessions ces place their powerful organization at the service of the empire and be its chief pillar of strength this is the consummation that every friend of germany and of humanity must devoutly wish it would bring advantage to both sides and put an end to autocracy the empire would have to abandon its attempt to return to me military despotism and allow ita subjects large liberty of thought speech and action while the socialists would have to abandon their notion of the state as a mere economic beehive and accept it as the great institution for raising man above slavery to physical needs into spiritual freedom and culture in this way germany might be strong without being enslaved and the present condition of things against which all thoughtful men rebel might come to an end professor thomas davidson in forum |