The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-06-30
A DREAM OF CONQUEST.
THE GERMAN ANSWER TO THE. ENG
LTSH -1LIFA

THE GERMAN 4ANSHER TO THE ENG
LTSH -ILARM
Public Letter or the German-English
Future Politician, John Michel Truts
Baumwoll, to his Majesty, the Empe-
ror OF Germany.
We have already briefly alluded to the re.
markable letter published in the AngsburgeI
Allgemeine Zsitung, purporting to be ad.
dressed by German resident OF London to
the Emperor William. The sensation which
the letter has caused in Europe, justities US In
reproducing in The NEWS translation of the
greater portion OF this strange, but not alto
gether faRciful document. The writer begins:
As German have the deepest interest in
the honor OF your Majesty's arms, in the
growth Of the Empire, and the lasting re-
nOwn of our race; as an old resident-aye,
citizen of England, 1t is in my power to pro.
mote the practical and essential interests OF
my adopted Fatherland, and long reflection,
ford'me the elew by which both objects.may
be attained in one and the same. way. In
speaking thus-and on this point your Imperial
Majesty may rest assured-I do not express
my individual views alone. All that my own
experience and Judgment have taught me on
this subject have heard more than once con-
frmed from the mouths of Engllshmen them.
selves, whose loyal patriotism Is above all
doubt, and who can regard the present condi-
ton OF the kingdom only with apprehension.
My long abode 10 this country and my inti-
mate relations with 80 many Englishmen
give me the right to affirm this. They all feel
ready to exclaim, with Shakespeare, "the
out ~ otn Thnr to
that universal and living patriotism
that once pervaded all classes of the
English people. The respectful sud chivalrous
loyalty to the sovereign which was maintain
ed in this island while it was already extin-
gulshed in more than one country Of the west
had died out. Nothing remains Of that sub,
ordination OF classes which once distinguished
English society. There is. no longer that mu-
tua1 trust and confidence of one class in the
other that in former times softened the differ
ences Of birth and wealth. Instead of these,
one now sees contempt or hatred of all gov
ernment Dy ali ranks, jealousy OF the power
and rights Of the crown, envy OF the privileges
knowledged or anticipated superiority OF each
individual as well as Of each rank, insolence
toward the great, and, on the part Of The
great, haughtiness aud severity, il-humor and
unfrlendliness among the masses, mutual
desire to supplant and surpass one another,
greedy pursuit of gain, and a not less greedy
pursuit OF luxury and high living.
The above are exclusively social changes;
there are also changes In the State which ac-
company, If they do not precede them. the
government Of England has been parllamen-
Dry for the past three centuries; but the Par
lament was aristocratic; to-day 1t is Demo.
cratic. There, indeed, sat in the House Of
Commons o considerable number OF Liberal
aye, ultra Liberal-members whom Westmin-
ster, London, Bristol, and other large cities,
used to elect to Parliament, and these repre-
sentatives Of the large cities gave expression
on all important questions Of the day to the
popular views and wishes; but they did not
rule the Parliamentary could not absorb it.
The majority were OF average aristocratic con-
necton, and gave the tone to the Lower
House. However widely Whigs and Tories,
or partisans of Pitt and Fox, or Canning and
Brougham, might differ on political questions,
there were things in which they always
agreed. The Lower House was an Assembly
OF gentlemen; all were brought up in the old
school, and their speeches were promo OF
classical "reminiscences; but no beer.driDking
agitator could hatter himself with the hope OF
winning any real influence there, nor was any
preaching knight Of the counter allowed to
prevail. The common ideas OF plebeian poll
ticians found no expression, or, were the7
spoken, they found no hearers within those
walls.
The government was, like the Parliament,
essentially aristocratic. Like all arisroc
it knew how to concentrate the spirit and
power of the nation upon warlike attack and
warlike defence. 1t knew how to hold the
nerve and courage of the English people on
the strain during gigantic fifteen years war.
England led her own fleets, and besleged those
of her enemies on every sea; through these
the nayies Of France and Spain were reduced
to nothing for more than whole genera
ton.
wherefore, then, your Majesty, recall to
memory the wars, campaigns and battles tnat
and wellington, All that is past. Far be 1t
Qpm me TO assert that the dashing courage OF
1hgllsh sailors has died out since Nelson's day,
OF that the British army no longer contains
as brave warriors as In the days OF waterloo.
But do assert-and every patriotic English
man asserts with me-the capacity which.
those fleets and armies exhibited, the spirit
that thew maintained steady and unshaken In
the presence OF enemies flushed with victory,
rebellion at home, and exhausted inan-
ces.that capacity and that spirit. no longer
The diplomatic revelations of the last month
have brought to light the absolute .poweress-
ness OF England In all international relations:
She once played a leading partin She greatest
wars and the greatest treaties Of peace. She
took no Insignificant part in the treaties that
resulted from great war In the year 1915,
and which prevented another in 1880. She
spoke, and her words were listened. to with re-
spect BY kings and generals. The stipulations
she wished TO offer were accepted, and those
she objected to were left out. 1t is 80 no
longer. She speaks, and foreign nations lis
ten with courtly but half disdainfnl mien.
What she proposes when she ventures to
propose anything-is scorntully disregerded.
When she menaces (itmust be some hali-clvil-
ICED Abyssinians,) the meanced power laughs
at her threats. In word, she has sunk from
her rank and precedence to comparative IN
significance.
It is hardly necessary TO assure your Majesty
that this condition Of things gnaws at the
heart of every thoughtful and patriotic Eng
lishman. Indeed, there are very many Eng
lishmen-perhaps the greater number-blind
or Indifferent to the fame and power OF their
country. They are perfectly satisfied II the
looms In Lancashire are in motion; II Derby.
shire and Durham are still sending coal, and
If in every new year the feels Of the Thames
and the Mersey show an increase. But not all
have an interest in cotton, iron and coal, and
of those who have an interest II these, not all
are Indifferent to Iatherland and honor. There
is 8 considerable and continually Increasing
number of English subjects-yet only small
minority Of the whole nation-who are pain
fully sensible of its lost prestige; and as
they look with shame upon the present, tney
look with doubt upon the future. Yet they
will often seem to see, as their eyes are
opened, the twilight Of better and brighter
day through the clouds and darkness that
,,rronn6 fhon II ia the conversation OF