Life, 1917-03-01 · page 21 of 42
Life — March 1, 1917 — page 21: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
The cartoon titled "Ghosts of the Past and the Reality of To-Day" depicts three eagles perched on a nest containing a money bag marked with a dollar sign, illustrating Germany's military and financial interests during World War I. The text discusses Germany's political future, speculating that Field Marshal Hindenburg may become leader of a post-Kaiser German republic. The article also critiques Theodor Wolff, a Berlin liberal editor, for suggesting via wireless that America's break with Germany was a mistake—a position the author views as self-interested German propaganda seeking a comfortable peace. The satire targets German elites who prioritize financial survival and gentle reconciliation over genuine democratic reform, while questioning whether German liberals genuinely support peace or merely want to preserve their interests. The "ghosts of the past" reference suggests the Kaiser's outdated autocratic ideology haunts Germany's future.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
GHOSTS OF THE PAST AND THE REALITY OF TO-DAY events but only pieces of news. The great man in Germany now is Hinden- berg. He is the popular hero; the dom- inant influence in the army, the hope of those at home. The story comes from London that when the crash comes, Hindenberg will be the leader of German democracy, and possibly the first President of a German republic. It is a good enough prognostication to think about. If the powerful mas- ters of industrial and commercial Ger- many conclude, as this London insinu- ation suggests, that it is time to stir actively to save the pieces of German trade, of course they will reckon with Hindenberg. Whenever they become convinced that the Hohenzollerns are no longer a safe bet, they must-consider who is strong enough to handle the or- ganization when the Hohenzollerns let go. Probably Hindenberg is entirely loyal to the Kaiser, but if events are not loyal to him, a considerable collec- tion of loyalty may be transferred from the Kaiser to Germany, and “Deutschland Over All” be sung to the prejudice of the Kaiser's heirs. Nevertheless, all speculations about the Kaiser and his destiny are mighty uncertain. One would like to know what Lloyds’ thinks about it. The Kai- 353 ser has had very troublesome ideas and superstitions, but he came by them honestly, and they were popular in Germany and so was he. But the ideas and the superstitions have turned out very unwholesome for Germany and immensely destructive to everyone else, and the purpose of the war is to abol- ish them. If that succeeds, it is hard to imagine a surviving Kaiser with his actuating ideas knocked out. We may not see somebody President of Ger- many and the Kaiser and his family on the run, but the chances are favorable to our seeing either that or something not less dramatic. But first, as Mrs. Glass said, catch the hare. And whatever happens to the Kaiser no one jwill deny that he has had a remarkable run for his moncy. wolf! THEODOR WOLFF of the Berlin Tageblatt, a liberal German editor, has conveyed the opinion by wireless to the Evening Post that for us to break relations with Germany was a monstrous mistake, and very upsetting to German Liberals and the League for Peace idea. The natural German pref- erence at this time, shared even by Lib- erals, is to be let down easy; to have the war peter out with the least dis- comfort possible, and have things for- Dearingly rearranged. That is the only plan a conspicuous Berlin editor could openly favor at this time, even by wireless. He could not suggest, without risking his bread ticket, the subversion of the dynasty, though the rise of a German republic on the wreck of the empire would be an ideal accelerator of the League for Peace. And we must not count too confi- dently, as yet, on the League for Peace. As a process of thought it is useful, and as a working hypothesis it may lead to something, but as a fact it would present some extraordinary em- barrassments. Like Mr. Wilson's dress to the Senate, it helps discussion of the future of the world. So let us continue to discuss it. comicbooks.com