The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-01-25
WAY WITH GERMANY.

within the next SIX molthS We may
fight Germany Just as gayiy as ne fought
Spain" said Poultney Bigelow. the able
and well-knoWn expert on the German
emperor Now he, too. seems 70 have
joined the possibie-war-With-S
shouters. says the New York World. cd
itorialIy. Senator Lodge is the chief op-
ponent OF this idea. He has warmed the
country from his place in the senate.
vigorously pounding his desk ana meIodi-
ously rolling bis s. Wise old men IN
the senate say Lodge wants another war
go that he can write a history about it.
Has the alert BigclOw the same anbi-
tom
ii this bloody conflict IS impending. the
public that must furnish the men and
money Tor the enterprise should be told
whore IL wal be fought, continues the
World. WIN the United States raise a
million men and send them 70 Germany ?
how VIII the invaders be transported
Where viii they land? How viii they
be fed. with a base OF supplies $3.50
miles away, or IS that problem 70 De
solved by the capitulation OF Germany s
Two million soldiers as soon as the Uni
ted states feet appears in the offiug?
Perhaps Germany win elect TO fight in
this country. How viii her million men
be brought here, and where viii they
land2 Would nothing happen 10 them on
the way across, with the American navy
70 dispute the passa ge2 is IL 10 be q ma
val war? Then Germany is IA bland ig-
norance of the relative strength of the
navies OF the two countries. Or have the
Lodges and the Bigelows discovered q
vast and misty plain midway between
the seas-neutral ground where the ar
mics can clash?
VIII the distinguished and prophetic
Mr.. Bigeiow please answer?
One Of the peculiar reasons for Poult-
ney BigeIow's forebodings is found In
this paragraph Of his speech:
when the German aristocrat realizes
shat the United States has invaded Eu-
rope for the purpose OF dominating the
market he is just ignorant and conceited
enough 10 believe he can improve condi-
tons by a fight for commercial sup-e-
macy
If this were true-whiah IS more than
doubtful-the German arlstocrat would
be as ignorant and coBcelted as many
American journalists and some senators.
The German emperor and the German
statesmen are able men and have fun and
complete information. They know that
geographically Germany is more exposed
10 danger than any country in Europe.
The empire IS surrounded by foes, some
OF them hereditary and most of them
malignant. With France on the west
signing for revenge, with Russia on the
east waiting for an opportunity. Austria
to the south remembering Sadowa and
Silesia, Denmark in the north still pin
ing for Schleswig- Holstein, and discon-
tented Poles and French within her Dor
ders, no country is so completely sur
rounded by dangerous neighbors. Inva-
sion OF the United States would mean an
invasion OF Germany by some one or all
Of them as soon as the German trans
ports were hull down on the horizon.
Emperor William has talked foOlishly
at times. but he has acted foOlishlv rare
~. The impression that he holds war
lightly is absolutely untrue. His whole
record proves the contrary. He is anx-
ious TO preserve peace with France, with
Russia, with Austria, with England. with
everybody He maintains a marvellous
army, but he has been studiousiy courte-
Gus to the countries with which he might
easily be at odds. He may be the war
lord for home consumption. Comic pa
pers are fond of so clubbing him. but il
is preposterous to talk of the kaiser as
an autOcrat who could declare war even
if 1t would be by the snap off his finger or
the stamp of his foot Emperor William
can no more declare war of his own Volt
ton than can Mr.. Poultney Bigelow. His
powers are limited by the constitution,
by the bundesrath and the representa-
tives of the twenty-Odd sovereign states
war can be declared by the German par
lament, public opinion. yea. the press
Any one familiar with the literature of
German politics. and especially the In
teresting Bismarck literature cannot fail
20 be impressed by the extraordinary i'm
portance Bismarck himself attached 20
the power of the press as an indlspen-
sable agency in the shaping OF public
opinion. lie may have despised the press
lie D.
and disa greeable 20 his plans but all the
lives Of Bismarck, whether that of Busch
or Butcher or Low or POschinger or
Kendell or his own memoirs. show an
incessant activity on his part 10 die
tate. inspire, prompt and revise political
editorials aud manipulate the press in
all parts Of the country. Now. the press
Of Germany is intelligent. moderate. con-
servative and careful Of its responsible
ties. il certainly is more conscientious
and far less lingo than some Of cur own
sensational senators and lingo Journal
lists. We venture 10 assert that IL any
person, politician or newspaper en- Ger
many were 10 talk Of war with the
United States he would be regarded as
contemplate, GnpatriOtic. suspected Of
unsoundness Of mind and accused OF be-
ing an enemy OF his own country.
The emperor himself is man Of ideas.
70 the president TO allow Miss Roosevelt
20 christen his yacht was more than an
ordinary international courtesy. II was
a most significant political peace Offering.
IN making that request and IN sending
his only brother, Prince Henry. 20 this
country the emperor extends the right
hand Of fellowship 10 the United States.
Twenty-Five years ago such an act would
have been laughed AZ IN all the courts OF
Europe. Now there IS not sovereign
who is not envious OF the Falser's bold
and brilliant thought and jealous Of our
hearty acceptance. In reality The act is
a recognition. straight out, IN the eyes
OF ell the world. OF the new greatness of
the United States, II our rank. our rev
power and our 1ew influence. II = a new
sign post pointing 10 our splendid future
And it carries with 1t the declaration that
al talk Of war between Germany and the
United states Is but "the bahbie ~ fools
OF naves-prepostercus OF criminal"
Reopens the Question.