suppressed the clapping of hands as unparliamentary and the
demonstrations of the galleries as undignified, let the patriotic
outburst go on to its end.

After a short intermission the business meeting began. Sixteen war
measures had been introduced, the most important of which was the one
asking for 5,000,000,000 marks to carry on the war. The leader of the
Social Democrats read a statement explaining why his party, despite its
opposition on principle to all army and navy appropriations, would vote
for the proposed bills. Without further debates all the bills were
passed, and shortly after 5 P.M. the Reichstag adjourned. At 7 P.M. the
Emperor received the presiding officers of the Reichstag to thank them
for their prompt and useful work. He signed the bills, which were
immediately published and thus became laws.

The resolute attitude and quick work of the Reichstag reflected the
unity and resolution of the entire nation. Sixty-seven millions of
Germans feel, think, and act with their elected representatives. No
party, no class, no creed is standing back; all are imbued with one
single thought: United Germany is unconquerable.

The entire German people are united as never before in their history.
Even 101 years ago, in 1813, the entire population cannot have been so
uniformly seized by the spirit of war as at the outbreak of this
struggle, which is the people's war in the truest sense of the word, and
which was predicted by Bismarck. All reigning Princes are going out to
fight with the army and have appointed their wives as regents. Instances
include the Kaiser's son-in-law, the Duke of Brunswick, who appointed
his consort, the only daughter of the Emperor, as regent. The Princes
call their people to arms, and they themselves all stand ready to
sacrifice all they have. This example from above carries the nation with
them. The Reichstag knew parties and factions no more, and neither does
the nation. The Emperor sounded the word which has become common
property from Koenigsberg to Constance, from Upper Silesia to the Belgian
frontier: "I know only Germans!" And yet how terribly is our nation
otherwise disrupted by party strife. Ill-advised persons across our
frontiers hoped that creed differences would make for disunion,
Frenchmen and Russians expected to weaken our empire with the aid of
Alsatians and Poles. This hope has been destroyed--we are a united
people, as united as was the Reichstag, the Socialists included