The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-01-08
THE INCENTIVES TO WAR.

The truth of Historian Leckys state
less in the intrigues of statesmen than in
'inveterate international jealouses and
antipathies-in sudden and volcanic out
bursts of popular passion" appears in what
is going on in Europe at the present time
Great Britain is power which most con-
tinental people dislike and even hate The
same would be true of the American people
IL British self-interest rather than moral
considerations had not led British states
men TO take our side in the troubles with
Spain as far a neutral power could II
the press of France and Germany express
the sentiment of the masses in those coun-
tries. a coalition would be formed to de-
feat the British i'm South Africa. For a
quarter of century the French people
have regarded Germany as the enemy with
which France must go to war in order
TO obtain revenge for its humiliating de-
feat at the hands of Germany. During all
this period the French people displayed a
sort Of childish rage toward Germany; and
against the Germans, since the latter ex-
posed the weakness of the former and COM
PEELED them TO pay a war indemnity which
will burden France for centuries. Germany
made France a second-class power and
herself the most potential nation on the
continent. The French press would forget
all this hatred and jealousy If Germany
would but make an alliance with France
to break the power of Great Britain, now
that the latter is involved in a war i'm South
Africa 1--WE have done as much harm to
Germany as Germany has done to u.s." is
the declaration of Frenc., journal. ''but
England is our hereditary foe," it goes on,
land owe her considerable yet" There
is no doubt that this is the sentiment of
a large part of the French people. and
that the German people at the outset
might form a coalition to humble Great
Britain.
Statesmen are moved by other consid-
erations. the financial embarrassments of
the great nations. the vast cost of modern
war, the gigantic commercial losses it en-
tails and the utter ruin that may follow
defeat With all Europe an armed camp.
no one government will assume the respon-
sibility of war so long 1t can be avoided
and selfish designs can be accomplished by
other agencies. The disposition of the
French and German people TO take sides
with the Beers does not arise from any
moral incentive to support the Beers. since
there is nothing in their character and atti-
tude toward European nations to COM
mend them to the sympathy of the world.
unless sympathy is always with the
smaller dog in a fight The desire to help
the Beers is inspired by purpose to hum
BILE the power that has dominated Europe
for more than a hundred years.
That the ruling power i'm Germany seems
just now on unusually good terms with the
British causes so much surprise on the
part of many people that they will not
believe the reports of fresh understanding
in connection with the purchase of the
of Portugal. Selfish motives
rather than antipathies control Emperor
William. and now that England is in a
position where her self-interest makes 1t
necessary for her to be yielding, William
is asking and getting what Great Britain
would refuse but for the trouble liz the
Transvaal. Germany wanted Samoa, and
Great Britain graciously made her share
of it present to Germany. Germany has
possessions in South Africa and is pos
sessed with an eager desire for more. Such |
being the case it is easy to account for |
the reports of an understanding about Sc
curing the possessions of Portugal, divi- |
sion of the spoils of territory in South |
Africa, and the concessions of Great Brit |
ain in order to obtain Delagoa bay and |
the neutral ports while the war with the |
Beers is on. So long as the commercial |
power of Germany can be extended by |
trades with England, the Beers and their |
cause are of no consequence to William. |
They involve no moral consideration COM |
pared with the ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Of the |
German empire.