The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-03-09
HENRY AND THE KAIsER's MOTIVES.

pulse of good feeling. have not been suspicious Of tn
Kaisers motives or even tnquisitive as TO state pur
poses behind the unusual compliment. They have &C
oeptcd the evidence of friendliness in the same friend
ly spirit and have been particularly pleased with th'
tact and ~frankness of the Kaisers brother and repre-
sentative.
Necessarily. however, the reasons for what is II
effect an embassy from the German sovereign to the
American people will be closely analysed on each sidt
of the occan-as TO both cause and effect.
At st. Louis Prince Henry for the first and only
time seemed to be thrown slightly off his balance. He
said that he had come not to WOO the United States
but to show that Germany properly values this nation
and is ready TO meet overtures of friendship. Perhaps
this was spoken for effect in Germany: perhaps it was
provoked by cartoons and paragraphs in American
and English newspapers. At any rate. the words
showed a bit of consciousness. Coming as part Of a
series of carefully calculated speeches Of amity. the
sentence seemed TO protest just the least too much:
seemed TO explain to some force at a distance that the
Kaiser was not forgetting other friends when greeting
the Great Republic.
What were the Kaiser's motives in sending his
brother to America?
One Berlin correspondent claims to know from
palace sources that William wishes to come himself
during the st. Louis Exposition year In order that he
may look into the causes Of American progress in
commercial productiveness. Henry's visit is, on this
theory. an experiment, a trial trip.
The New York Herald warns this country that
Germany contemp.ates asking for a coaing station
and base of supplies from which a great feet can be
operated in the Gulf of Mexico and South American
waters.
A third theory is that Germany would like to build
and control the isthmian canal.
Some diplomatic gossips in Washington have put
out 4 conjecture that the Kaiser expects the United
States, a non-cOlonizingc country. TO grow weary Of the
Philippine burden. He wishes to be the favored friend
when the time comes for turning the islands over to
another sovereignty.
Then We hear that Germany's new tariff is Ger
tainly to be harsh to American cereals and meat; a
reason for the Kaisers desire to establish the friendli-
est possible feeling as a means of soothing the natural
resentment of agricultural America which would be
likely to explode at Washington in a form dangerous
to German interests.
1t is a matter of history that Germany has been for
years more than willing to negotiate a special COM
mercial treaty with the United States: our own Gov
eminent being reluctant and preferring to stand on
the most favored nation clause of the old treaty
with Prussia. There is a guess that the Kaiser. TO
satisfy the various interests at home with which he
must deal, wishes strongly TO finish the special treaty
negotiations and. recognizing the power Of general
popular opinion in this country. esteems an increased
sentiment Of friendship the best foundation for the
of renewed efforts.
After all, the correct conclusion would be. perhaps,
that not any one but a combination OF these reasons,
with others, has induced the Kaiser to be the first of
sovereigns to send a direct mission from the
throne to the American democracy. In most great
affairs Of the kind it turns out that the intention Is
general rather than specific. The Kaiser may have
in mind any or all of the purposes which the gossips
have attributed to him. None Of the guesses is neces-
sariiy accurate. Without entertaining any Of those
particular intentions William might still perceive the
high value of a cordial friendship among the Ameri-
can people for himself and his nation. Without look
Ing ahead to special measures he could readily under
stand that with such a nation as ours, the richest, the
most powerful and commercially the most aggressive
in the world. his Government must inevitably have
of the gravest importance. In preparation
for what the future may contain Of agreement and
disagreement. it is not surprising but natural that a |
ruler of intelligence-and intelligent the Emperor VIII
certainly is. as every Hohenzollern bag been
should take the favorable opportunity. when there are
no acute European complications to interfere. Of in a |
striking manner t~estifying to German friendship for |
America and arousing American friendship for Ger
Mr.. Won Schierbrand's article In the North Ameri-
IAN Review throws n light upon this view. He has
had exceptional facilities in the study Of German
national conditions and international policies. He
states as a fact that the Dreibund has definitely ceased
I'D De III pivot Oh German Qlplom0cy. Inc Emperor, 1
he believes. has frankly admitted to himself that
future is to be determined more by its re- |
atiOns with the United States and England than by |
with any other Power or Powers. These are |
the two great commercial and industrial peoples; they |
ire the two of inevitably greatest naval strength. |
Since Germany cannot ~prodtably make q point Of sur
passing either the United States or England on the |
it becomes the more necessary that the central |
object Of German diplomacy should be a complete |
with both. |
OF course, as Mr.. Won Schierbrand sees, this policy |
will be modified by many considerations growing out
IF internal German conditions and out Of relations
other European governments. But, II his theory |
s the right one, an understanding among the three ma
ions Of similar character is to be the guiding purpose
German policy.
The whole subject of speculation regarding the sig
lifcance Of Prince Henry's visit Is to-day the most
interesting feature Of world politics. And the specu-
alton in no way lessons the genuine pleasure which
he visit has given to America or the hope IT has
stimulated that for all time to come there will be
,othing but peace and good will between the two
treat modern. educated. progressive peoples. /
A RESULT OF CIVILIZATION.
A writer In one of the Eastern ma1axines cslls ot-