The Daily Chronicle of Wednesday reports some astonishing examples of
lese-majeste prosecutions in Germany. One of these victims of Imperial oppression "is an artisan's wife in Spandau, who made certain foolish remarks in connection with a picture of the Kaiser hanging on the wall of a friend's room. Some time after she and her friend quarrelled. The friend, recollecting her remark about the Kaiser, gave information to the police, with the result that the offending woman has been sent to gaol for four months." Another case is reported from Upper Silesia, "where a coal-miner has been imprisoned for utterances against the Kaiser in connection with his journey to Palestine." It is difficult to write with moderation about such odious cases of petty tyranny. One can hardly believe that the Emperor can feel any gratification in seeing a poor woman put in prison for four months merely because she has an unbridled tongue. But if not, why does he not forbid all prosecutions for mere personal abuse ? There wcrald be something fine in his saying: 'I must punish impertinent remarks about ray Ministers and great public servants, but the notion of libelling me is absurd. I am too high above the street-folk to hear their babble.'
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