The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-11-14
Mommsen,s gloomy Views.

In the recently published opinion Of
Theodore Mommsen concerning the
English American alliance. only those
familiar with the authors works fully
appreciate the weight OF opinion and
consistency therein expressed.
Probably the people OF no other
European nation have more readily I'M
bibed the spirit of American independ-
ence Of which we pirate than have
his countrymen. Certainly none have
at heart 50 little reverence for royalty
are so ready 10 leave the mother coun,
try or entertain such socialistic senti.
ments as they. and this OF itself TO a
narrow mind might convert US into a
menace But 20 Mommsen IL is other
wise. He IS a man OF broad vision with
an eye To the ultimate good and yet
ne believes a great republic Is a great
evil and a constant menace to human
liberty and the life OF nations. That
Is why he breads the possibility Of
England's heroic endeavons 10 draw
America into the meshes OF an alliance
That this great German historian IA
conservative: that he believes the hest
form OF government TO be that iR
which the masses are subordinate 10
the classes-an aristocracy OF blood
that he deems the power 10 increase
the amount OF money IN circulation To
BE a government Junction. preroga.
tive OF the arlstocratic ruling class-of
all this no one win entertain a doubt.
But that an autagonism 10 the spread
NJ democratic principles Is the base OF
his opinion. as recently intimated by
\ contemporary. no one can believe.
A conception OF his thought may bs
gathered from his description OF re-
publican Rome during its last years
There with grafshic skin he holds be.
fore the readers vision TIE one certain
cause OF decay that was allowed Ia
eat into the heart of Roman national
life--"the same that desolated the
Hellas of Polybius' and the Carthage OF
Hannibal's time"-the perverted use OF
money IN public affairs.
Regarding the all-powerful rule OF
money In Rome. he says; 1T ruined
the middle class raised trade and es-
tate-farming to the highest prosperity.
and ultimately led TO a-hypocritically
whitewashed-m and political cor
ruptiou OF the nation in which there
was nothing TO bridge over the fatal
contrast between the world Of heggars
and the world OF the rich"
The rich, he tells US. lived luxurious
ly, constantly serving dinners OF the
most expensive delicacies obtainable.
equal even 10 manufacturers dinner
given 10y the members OF the modern
National Protective League. and owing
great sums Of money, while the poor
INDUCED in bread riots and were inn
prisoned FOR small debts. And, final
iy. when matters got 60 an impossible
pess, wars were undertaken on trump
ed-up preteNts. at first 10 furnish em-
ployment for the troublesome hungry
element ot society, and at last for con
quest and a place Of settlement for
the discontinued heggsrs where they
might be useful and be drawn upon
for revenue Wherever the two ex-
iremes. wealth and poverty. have lonc
prevailed. they have annihuated fam.
siy hfe-the germ OF northumberland
In Rome a large standing army. which
became necessary 20 guard their for
eign possessions. completed the moral
degradation.
FOLLOWING upon detailed accoun.
OF the life and habits in republican
Rome. Mommsen penned in 1856 a
prophecy that the world will moi
again have similar fruits u reap until
The dragon seed Of North America rip.
ems krowing, as We do. that this
was written concerning a period Of
history IN which every principle Of
democracy was hopeIaSslx. los, 4, Z,
easy 10 believe that il is not the spread
oi democratic ideas alone that thought.
Iui men IN Europe fear. but an aristoc.
raey of wealth founded upon graspins
greed
interesting as these reflections o.
Mommsen are. they VIII awaken II
TINS country no especial concern as an
Piled 10 the American republic.