The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-09-26

or moro Of thess countries might be allies
OF Germany from the frst.
'Contrsriwtss France and Russia. n q
war with Germany and the Triple Alliance.
might practically zeal ur Germany " they
were successful at scA. insisting that the
Scandinavian countries and Holland should
not make up to Germany ny land what
had been cut OF by sea Germany In THU
view. apart from any possibility Of rupture
with this country. has q case for n powerful
fleet. IL Is no, quite 80 much liable 20 q
blockade as we are, but there Is q liability
Of the zane kind. Tn. question Of naval
preponder anc~ among rival Powers may
then bccome rather a serious n II pre-
ponderanos II to bs nearly as essential
20 Germany a. IL u TO this country. Who IL
10 pteponderaie, Wha, our practical ac-
ton ought to he In the premises Ia a ques-
ton tha might easily lead us ton far on
occasion like thL. but the facts should
u ever present 20 the minds of our public
msn. We may DO quite certain that they
are quite well known and understood In
the councils Of the Russian. German. French
and other Continental Governments.
Discussing Sir Robert Giden's address
editorially, the Ttmss to-day. referring
To points put forward In the above alb
stract. says:
Germany h becoming . maritime
Power. not 40 much by choice. or, a. some
people think. by shear ambition. but by
the same ~oompulsion "a ou~rselvce-by
the Irresistible ~compulsion OF economic
pressure. What the internal consequences
OF this economic pressure may be. we are
not here concerned 20 consider In detail;
but II would seem that IL must tend TO
ao~oentusts and internally the conflict already
Joined bctwccn the asrartan and oom-
mcrcial forces OF the Empire, with re-
sults certain TO be- sar.reachins. and. II our
own economic history l. any criterion,
almost certain to end In the ultimate pre-
dominance Of the latter. Its external
consequences on the other hand. are OF
much greater concern to ourselves. A
new sea Power II arising. founded on
substantially the same economic basis
M our own. and. for the same reaso n.
impelled by a desire, not ls-s legitimate
In the abstract. to be supreme, L'octdn
Ne oomports gu'un seui maure. a. a French
writer has said. and history confirms the
sayiAS.
Tho history OF m val warfare u the his
tory Of nation after nation whose growing
maritime commerce. or growing tendency
TO expansion. has compelled IL 70 secure
freedom Of maritime transit for itself and
to deny II TO others In time of war. VIII
the same ~compul-ion afect Germany. or
will II he counterscted by another historical
law. which seems TO forbid the same Power
to be equally strong on land and at seaf
TIM alone will show. But let US not de-
ceive ourselves. The facts. says Sir Robert
GiYen. should be over present TO the minds
Of our public men. We may be quite Ger
tain that they are quito well known and
understood in the councils OF the Russian.
German. French and other Continental
Governments A regards Germany, We
know that such is the case. Its resolve TO
have a navy not incapable OF holding its
own on the ocean. la growing colonial
aspirations, is polite and prescient activity
in Asia Minor. are signs Of the times not
10 be mistaken. We may be- quite sure.
too. that Germany will apply TO ev' ~ depart
men, Of it's navy that spirit Of scientific
method. that saving belief in the power
Of knowledge ~ such. which Ii the intel
lectual Characteristic Of the raco.
AL this should make no Englshman
afraid who has equal confidence In his own
race. in its intellectual. moral and economic
equipment for thu future. But Il should
makes US reflect. and IL should make u
public men beware. The political forces
Of the future lie. for those who know how
to look for them, in the economic facts
Of the present and the past. Sir Robert
Gifen has shown us how and whore to
look for them. II will be our own fault.
and our very great fault, and not the judg-
ment Of Heaven II. by ignoring them
now. We allow them TO overwhelm US bore
after