Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-14

in magnitude and strength. Inc emperor 8
whole system of government from the day
on which he assembled the German throne
up to the present time has been one pro-
lCnged effort to increase the prestige of the
German empire among the great powers of
the world and to extend German Influences
into regions In which the German flag for
merry was quite unknown. His naval policy,
his interference in China with the mailed
fist. the part he played in the Venezuelan
trouble, and all the other features of his
foreign policy have been undertaken with
view to increasing the international power
of Germany.
Composition Of the War Party.
The German emperor is supported by
large and influential sections of the German
nation In his policy of foreign expansion.
First and foremost, he has solid phalanx
OF all the officers of the German army and
the German navy behind him in his efforts
to make Germany the most formidable
naval and military power of the world. The
class of naval and military officers counts
for more in Germany than in any other
country In the world in the point of political
and social influence. Officers of both serv-
ices in Germany are drawn either from
families of the ariStocracy or of the wealthy
classes whose political views are naturally
largely identical with those of the govern
ment. The great majority of the German
nobility. whose numerical strength Is re-
markable, are strongly in favor of a policy
of foreign and colonial expansion. Most
of the important administrative positions
throughout the German empire held by
aristocrats SO that great body of state
officials is under the control of men who are
imbued with the same ambitious ideas as
the German emperor himself
As a matter of fact, members OF all
branches OF the civil service. Throughout.
Prussia, at any rate, are SO strongly con-
WINGED of their own Identity with the gov
eminent of the country that they consider
1t their bounden duty to share the political
beliefs of their monarch. All branches of
the civil service in Germany wear uni
forms in order to Increase this feeling of
solidarity with the state itself, so that every
petty employe In the post office or on the
state railways feels that he has a large and
important share in the control of public
affairs. This sentiment is, of course. en-
cOuraged by the German government,
which has thus, in addition 20 the officers
of the army and navy, the whole force of
thousands of state officials. who are
sponsible for all branches of the admins-
tration of the country on its side.
The great merchants and manufacturers
of Germany also sympathize with the pol
icy of foreign expansion, not because they
are particularly patriotic, but because
they look forward to a great Increase Of
German commerce and industry result
of the extension of the boundaries of the
German empire. AS a matter of fact, the
motives of the majority of these German
imperialists are rather personal than pa
triotic.
The German emperor himself desires the
expansion of the German empire no. only
because he believes in the mission of the
German race, but because 1t will enhance
the glory of the HohenZollern dynasty. The
officers of the army and navy believe in i'm
perial expansion because they believe that
a persistently aggressive policy will plunge
Germany into war by means of which
they themselves will gain glory and distinc-
ton in their respective professions. The
great body of state officials are imperial
list because the government Is imperialist.
If the government We're anti-imperialist
they would also be anti-imperialist. The
German aristocracy favors the policy & ex-
pansion more because the emperor IS den
titled with this foreign policy than from any
patriotic sentiment.
In addition TO these classes, however.
whose support of the emperor's foreign pei
icy IS all the more reliable because 1t is
bound up with their own personal interests,
there are a considerable number of enthus-
asts who are aggressive imperialsts from
purely patriotic and sentimental motives.
Altogether, the German war party consists
of a combination of important factors in
German political affairs.
Countries to Be Gagged"
The German war party has no clearly de.
fined program. and 1t is probable that the
aims pursued by its various members are
widely divergent. Generally speaking, the
German war party proposes. by means OF
an energetic and aggressive foreign policy.