The old line of cleavage had barely closed up when a new and much more fundamental schism appeared in the State, that between imperialism and social democracy.

The existence of this tremendous revolutionary force in Germany, determined to overthrow the militarist _regime_ of Prussia and to re-establish the State on a democratic basis, is an unanswerable proof that the government of the Empire is not in any true sense representative.
Prussia has in this direction also impeded the development of the national idea and given mechanical unity at the expense of spiritual unity.

It has created a vast political party of irreconcilables in the country, men who have been led to feel that they have neither part nor promise in the national life, and who therefore elect to stand outside it.

"Our Social Democratic party," writes von Buelow, "lacks a national basis.

It will have nothing to do with German patriotic memories which bear a monarchical and military character.