The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-11-05
III" Consumption system and Ma
tionll Education.

\ paradoXical proposition has been
lately advanced in the columns Of the
London Times. namely that the remark
able progress made by Germany in
manufactures and commerce during
the last thirty years is largely. if not
wholly, due to her consCrptive system,
and that an Introduction of the same
system into tn" United Kingdom might
be expected 10 produce a similar result.
The grounds on which the assert ion is
made will be found interesting, whether
or no We accept the deduction drawn
from them.
The astonishing industrial advance Of
Germany since 1870 Is due no doubt, to
several causes, one of which is the politi-
cal unificatipn of the country. Nobody
would dispute however, that another
cause is III" marked improvement and
increased dissemination of commercial
and technical education The invigora-
ton and distribution OF such education
l. apparently stimulated by the con-
scrildion system, which puts premium
on knowledge and a penalty on igno-
v
young man, no matter To what class in
society he may belong, TO reduce the
first term Of military training from two
years 10 one year. if he can pass a pre-
scribed educational test, This curtal-
meut Of the period of compulsory mill
tary service Is looked upon as a great
advantage because the extra twelve
10 81,
specific training for an industrial, bust
ness or professional career More
over, "A failure To pass the educat ional
test prescribed by the conscription sys-
ten for an abridEmcnt Of the first term
of service under the Colors is regarded
rs "A disgrace. Thus il comes to pass
that a two-prongcd stimulus is applied
TO young men approaching the military
age. to wit, the desire 10 gain valuable
time and the wish TO avoid social oppro-
brium. Neither is the effect of such
twofold stimulat ion limited to those who
actually pass the educational test il is
extended 10 those who barely fall short
of il, in fact, the whole standard of the
national attachments in knowledge is
raised II must be conceded that neither
Of the particular stimulants named is
operative in Great Britain or in other
countries where the Conscription system
does not obtain.
If such an indirect effect Of the con-
scription system be admitted. the aues-
ton at once arises, Why is il not observ-
able IN France as well as in Germany?
In the first manned country young man
who has reached military age can reduce
the first term of service under the colors
from three years TO one year if he can
pass the prescribed educational test
Nevertheless, no one would pretend
that France since 1870 has made any re-
markable advance in the indust rial or
the commercial field, az compared with
her British or German competitors. On
the contrary, she has fallen behind. She
has by no means kept pace with Ger
many in respect to foreign trade This
fact may seem, AT the first glance, 10
contradict the deduction drawn as to the
indirect effect of the conscription system,
If, however, the educational test pre-
scribed in France be scrutinized, il will
be found To favor those young men in
tended for the so-called liberal profess
sions. that is to say. law, medicine and
the Church, rather than those qualified
by a technical or mercantile education
To succeed in industries and commerce
There is no doubt that, in law and medi-
cine, in pure science and in literature
there has been signal activity in France
since the present consumption system
became operative. If a like conspicuous
advance il not noticeable in the prac-
teal applications of chemistry, and in
the aptitudes of commercial travellers.
it may be because the educational test
prescribed by the French military au-
thorities tends less to the stimulation
of study and effort in those directions.
II is true that the practical applications
of chemistry for which France is indebted
To PAsrEuK have proved of incalculable
value but PAsTEuR was not product Of