The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-01-24
GERMANY AND AMERICA.

Tho visit OF Prince Henry will haze
dec,cr meaning and a more important IN
snoncc than the nero junkct Of q Prince
,,ho desics TO see the world For him it
r,;,I mean a chancs to gain an apprecla-
non of the enormous bulk ard power CT
his country. For US it will mean
closer union with Germany, not because
The mere coming of the brother OF the
jt.npcror with his retinuc will convey 10
o,t, minds any knowledge of Germany
that we have not at present, but rather
because from the personal contact "iit
sprirs. up a national feeling shat couid
never exist from courtes:cs based on
rcwspancr interviews and never could
arise from cabcd expressions OF good VIII.
The dream OF many Americans is Tor
us 10 work out our problems alone HA-
Iampered by the restrictions OF Euro
pcan po,itics untouched by their suffer
inss and unmoved by their prizes. But
nations, no less than individuals, can
not live cncl man 10 himself tor the
lGost sordid motives wsare compelled to
take nottrc OF Germany existence, OF what
ii wishes. Of whac it needs, of what 1t
likes and OF what it dsiikes. There are
many doctrinaires who for the love OF
1n1rc theory are willing 10 dccry that
.,rirjt o! commcrcialism which makes
man study possible customer for no
higher motive than that he may reap ac-
Vantage from his dealings with this Gus
toner. and for our part, VIC gladly adj
NIT that such motives are not the high
cst. nor such aims the best that have
animated mankind, But it is far hotter
10 know many nations and many men as
:, result of a wish TO sell them cotton
goods and steel rails than to live wholly
ignorant OF them. We would ia- rather
sec our country even for pure love OF
commcrcs. placing itself in a receptive
state of mind towards the national char
actcrstics of other people than to have
it remain shut up in the prejudices of
people who feel themselves sufficient for
themselves and who need not to learn OF
anyone.
The motive OF conlmercialism may not
tie the highest, but the stimulus derived
from this motive is perhaps the best that
can be hoped for in our present state OF
civilization, for since the days of the
crusades no nation has ever gone out to
Meet another nation in a pure spirit OF re-
lision or altruism. And We may remark
in passing that there is grave doubt now
whether the soul hunger of the pious
French and German knights was not
simply misunderstood phase of land
J,l,nper. as seen in Inc much ferated An
Slo-SaXon OF to-day.
But TO return to Prince Henry visit
lie will gain an idea of what America
may or may not mean TO Germany that
cannot fail to be of value in the future
councils of Germany. And he will be
nble to spread in America sentiment
of good will towards our people which Will
bc nurturcd by those who were once
Germans. after he has gone back to the
.'arthe land ii W Il b. a source offs re 9Th
and help 10 us TO have this state of mad
cultivated and maintained. Every trader
knows the benefit or talk face to face
NO one who desires to receive and 10 do
what is right has ever been other than
helped by a true knowledge Of those with
whom they were dealing, and the closer
relationship which this visit Will bring
between America and Germany can
not fail to be OF advantage 10 both the
moral and commercial growth of these
great nations. If it serves, as We think
j; Will. TO bring them into. closer touch
with each other as host spd guest