Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1899-06-13
DEFENSE OF GERMANY
Not Necessary for the Press to Offend
the Greatest Power Of Europe.
A just Effort at Appreciation of German
Character in Self-curure for
June.

The NJ onthly Self-Culture for June
has this editorial:
German sensibilities, il would APP
pear, have of late been subjected 10
much and wanton irritation, both in
this country and in England. The riv-
airy Of German commerce and the colo
nial exploitation Of the Fatherland
have, with the Kaiser's brusque self-as-
sertiveness now and then rufIled Eng
land and brought upon Germany and
her militant emperor the gibes Of the
London lingo press On this side and in
the far East, where America and Ger
many have met i'm somewhat the charac-
ter Of joint aggressors there has been
more or less international friction, and
notoriously 80 at Manila and Samoa.
This is part Of the price which nations
have TO pay when they enter the race
against each other for empire But
though international rivalry be keen,
there is no reason why the people Of one
country should lampoon and revile those
Of another. The oceans that separate
nations may be estranging ones, but
there is little wisdom in preversely con-
yerting them into seas Of gall. I'm on.
tering the race for territory and trade
with other countries, II we cannot do 40
without engendering bad blood and set
ting at naught the comfy of nations,
there IL the alternative Of staying at
home and isolating ourselves when we
are either in sullen or an enyious
mood, or are suffering nationally from
ft Of the megrms. The hint may be-
worth needing by our Legislators Of the
ilre-eating type, though we admit that
IL is often useless to look for suavity
and dignity In the speech or bearing Of
a tail.twisting politician. Nor Is il easy
10 bridle the pens OF chauvinistic news
paper correspondence or stop the mouths
Of boasctiu naval and military officers,
who are full alike Of their own achieve
ments and Of conceit. The Coghlan ai-
fair, which was fragrant breach Of
good manners, and naturally must have
boen exasperating 20 Germany, il ease
in point. Fortunately the Kaiser took
sensible and good-natured view Of the
matter, and there was no rash and in
consderate resort 10 the sword But for
the Emperor's complacency, the affair
might have taken an uglier turn; and,
II we do not take care, we may yet see
more serious results Of our imperial poll
Icy In bringing the nation, ~ Washing
ton warned M, into hostile collision with
other Powers. The natural result Of
conquest IL n bumptious and boastiul !
spirit and in these days Of rival milf !
tary crusading, il follows that the acts
and language of single indscreet ofIi-
clal are often taken by ioreigders as the
acts and language of the nation. Hence /
the need of diplomatic and official dis.
erection, and Of bridling the tongue and |
pen, especially those of public servants,
when foreign governments or their citi- |
IONS become the theme OF either ccnsurc
or complaint.
"ln the case of Germany, ~ we have |
said, there has seemed of late disposi-
tion, both In the United States and in
England 10 contemn her people, and 10 |
deride her ruler ~ an unfriendly and |
envious rival, The injustice Of this, we
may here note, has been ably protested
against by ON intelligent writer in the
pages of u recent English review. In
the course of thearticle its author makes
an ardent deiense-addressed particu-
hrly 10 an English people--oi the great
Ioutonic nation, and throws flood OF
light upon the qualities, discipline, and
training of the masses which have
elevated the empire to its high eminence
among the powers Of the modern world
and made il heritage of humanity.
lie applauds German industry and edu.
cation, aud even commends It's patcrnal
government and militarism, since In the
discipline of the latter II has, he con.
ceives conferred boon upon the peo-
pie, inculcating the spirit OF obedience
docllity, reverence, and hboriousness. "
The able article in Seli-Culture ought
to be a warning To newspapers like
llarper's Weekly that seem 10 delight in
publishing what Is offensive 10 the Ger.
man nation. German Americans are
not so sensitive, Their loyalty 10
American institutions was attcsted ON
The field OF battle in the war OF the re-
hellion, In the recent war with Spain
German American volunteers will be
ound 10 out-numher all other foreign.
'rs, That the German American makes
good colder, good farmer, business
nan, citizen and taxpayer no one will
question and il is no more than right
hat the American press should not rub ,
In too hard ON the entire German 4
'ation because few subordinate OIL. :
iais In Manila and Apia were guilty of Q
hensive conduct, They do not repre. y
ent tho feelings OF the German people b
this conntry or OF Germany toward y
he American government or the Amer. II
an people, We wish to quote another .
Angraph from the editorial in SELF. "
ultnre, which is really review of a =
niger article ia the Nineteenth Century /,
y April, entitled "Germany as an g
hiecl Lesson: "a