New-York tribune., 1900-05-14
TIE COERSE OE EuPLRE

The renascence of the German Empire must
be regarded as one of the most impressive feat
ureS of the last third of the nineteenth century
We do not mean merely its military achieve
mentS and proweSs, StupendOus as these are;
nor y. its rise in political Importance to place
in the very foremost rank of the worlds ma
lions. Empire means more than war and poll
ucs. The most noteworthy and most significant
progress of Germany has been in other direc-
tions than these and in directions without
which these would be futile. Colonially com
mercialy, industrially and socially the course
of empire in Germany commands the wondering
attention of the world. At least il does when
thought is given to the subject. For we sup
pose there is not another phenomenon of any
thing like equal Importance in the world which
is so often forgotten or overlooked. Not that
men forget or overlook Germany. but the fact
that Germany as il exists to-day is a new ere
alton. dating only from about thirty years ago.
Accustomed 10 regard Germany as an inte-
gral and continuous entity since the time Of
Caesar. men ignore one of the most interesting
and instructive developments of the age
The German Empire dates, in fact as well as
in name, from scarcely thirty years ago and
that which means German greatness to-day has
been co-existent only with that empire. Before
1870 Germany was. as Italy was. n 'geograph-
II was underpopulated. 1t had no colonies nor
any foOthold elsewhere in the world Its com
merce was small, and was largely dependent
upon foreign nations. We're also its indus
tries. It's motley throng of States ranging from
second class downward. were iarring among
themselves and without prestige in the world
at large To-day. on the other hand, the empire
is Of vast population. 1t has colonies in two
other continents. is credited with being about to
secure another or near the shores of
third. and has insular stations widely scattered
throughout the South Sea. It ranks among the
first three ma lions in commerce and industry
and carries exceptionally large proportion OF
IFS foreign commerce under its own flag It's
wealth Is increasing by leaps and bounds In
brief il is almost all that il was not but wanted
TO be before the war Of 1870
We shall not credit this tremendous transfer
nation TO that per Sc 1t is beyond doubt
10 be credited chiefly TO the creation of the en-
pire, and ii is an unchallenged historical fact
that the creation of the empire was greatly
fastened and facilitated by the war; it, indeed
it would ever have been effected without it.
Germany's greatness has proceeded from the
empire. just as American greatness has pro-
ceeded from the Union. In q measurable degree
such benefits have come TO Canada through the
formation of the Dominion. One of these davs
we shall observe the like accruing to the Com
monwealth OF Australia and 10 the United
! States OF South Africa in like manner To what
extent such course of empire may proceed In its
benefcent career in British imperial federation
fancy hesitates TO picture, for fear Of being
deemed 10 overrate that which is really under
rated One of the greatest domestic statesmen
and one of the least ingoish, that Great Britain