Page:Emile Vandervelde - Three Aspects of the Russian Revolution - tr. Jean Elmslie Henderson Findlay (1918).djvu/254

 obstinately opposed themselves to her liberal traditions?

The essential difference between the Central Powers and those of the Entente, that difference to which we have already alluded and to which we always return because it is the leading feature in the whole problem of the War, lies in the fact that while on our side a strong and active democracy exercising considerable political power, succeeds generally in holding in check Imperialist power, in keeping them at least within certain limits, the events of the three last years have shown, alas! but too clearly, that in the nations that are fighting against us democracy is powerless in the decisive hour, and so will she remain so long as deep and organic upheavals have not transformed the very constitution of their country.

We need not dwell on the evidence of this. If the responsibility of the German Empire in the present conflict were still to be established, if the side from which comes the Imperialist danger were still to be sought, Germany's own avowals would set at rest all further doubts.