New-York tribune., 1901-04-15
SHIBBOLETH.

The German Emperors order for the compul-
sorry teaching of the English language in the
high schools of Germany possesses double sig
nifcance 1t is doubtless an indication of the
Emperors personal desire for a closer approach
ment between Germany and Great Britain: de-
sire which he has otherwise manifested in the
last few years with directness and force not at
all to the liking of the Old Guard of Bsmarckian
Anglophobes. As such it is noteworthy and val
liable. But il must also be regarded an indi-
cation of the Emperors recognition-and not his
alone-Of the growing Importance of the Eng
lish language in international affairs Hitherto
French has been taught in the German schools
1t is now reduced to the rank of an optional
study while English takes its place on the COM
pusory list That means that English is re-
garded as more important than French and in
deed. more important than any other foreign
tongue. since ii alone is made required study.
That is curiousy significant of another thing
TO Wit. the intense practicality and commercial
spirit Of the present age. Time when in
ternational relations meant chiefly diplomacy,
and then French the international Ian
euage, the language of diplomacy and of royal
and imperial courts. 1t may be that had what
may call the dominance of diplomacy been
maintained French would have held its place as
the international language But it has como TO
pass tnat commerce often oveTtOpS diplomacy in
the relations of State with State. Tariffs and
trade are moro than dynastic marriages. and
shops cast chancelleries into the shade. Natu-
rally. therefore. the language Of the chief COM
mercial nation Samuel Adams's nation Of
shopkeepers" also comes to the fore as the new
international language. Nor is that indicative
of SOrdidness of lowering of tone in inter
national affairs. On the contrary we must
esteem it a decided elevation for statesmen to
turn from the selfish intrigues of individuals to
the great interests of popular welfare Compare
or rather contrast-the Spanish Marriages
with Reciprocity,
The language questions of the world are not.
then. merely academic. but intensely prac-
teal. 1t not by idle chance that in the
word 'shibboleih' a lingual test was made TO
differentiate between life and death. There is
momentous significance in the fact that all men
have language. and that brutes have it or
anything apprOximating to it-a difference of
kind. and not merely Of degree, between the
man who lives and the animal which dies Nor
Is 1t an idle whim which causes men to cling so
persistently to their mother tongue. even to the
extreme OF war. 1t was largely the language
question which brought on the Transvaal war
1t Is the language question which now threatens
Austria with convulsions. and which in little
Belgium sets Walloon to flying at Fleming's
throat. And in crushing the liberties of PolaNd
and OF Finland II is the national language Of
each land against which Russia directs her most
ruthless repression. The language OF a nation
is expressive OF its life. and the nations whose
languages arc dying are themselves dying na-
tions. while those whose languages are increas
inS in vitality and in extent Of use are as surely