The sun., 1909-01-10

self with percentages. II is certain tha
few Of the figures can bear careful boru
tiny. without dwelling further on the
contingent possibilities Of Germany
colonies, IL Is worth while to inquire into
their present condition. This has beer
eplgrammatically described by late 90
lonial governor in the words The fer
tile colonies are unhealthy and the healthy
colonies are unfertile." The combined
import and export trade OF the German
Empire with her colonies during the last
twenty years has amounted to less than
$50, 900 900. and a large part Of the ex-
ports has consisted Of materials OF pub
lio works and stores for the troops and
officials.
v.
In his twenty first chapter Mr. Dawson
considers the centripetal and centrifugal
forces which are arrayed against each
other In the German Empire. Can the
Federal State, which was founded early
In 1895 and enlarged early In 1871. be re-
garded as a stable organisationP Our
dubWSEb tudt OhO th W.
seriously thinks that the empire will or
can ever be undone. II would be mis-
take TO attach too great Importance to
the periodical fits OF self f-dlstrust and
nervousness which come over the whole
nation, irrespectively OF politics and
parties. "The empire Is established and
secure; no harm can come to 1t from
within; 1t Is able to resist any conceivable
hostility from without. Germany at
heart knows this. but at times forgets It..
and as a consequence falls into moods OF
hypochondria and panic which do not
show the German national spirit and char
soter at their best Mr.. Dawson declares
that all the pessimistic controversies OF
the last few years have failed to bring
to the front a single advocate Of return
to the political disunity which preceded
the French war.
While. however. the author thus en-
phasizes the fundamental fact Of the
empires absolute stability and solidarity,
hs makes at the same time an admission
which at first sight may appear incon-
sistent. Although everybody in Ger
many he says. lis by conviction or
policy an imperialist. II is impossible to
say that the enthusiasm with which the
proclamation Of the empire at Versailles
was greeted over generation ago exists
in the same measure to-day The patri-
otto heat Of 1871 has cooled. The empire
Is regarded as no less necessary than be-
fore. but for practical instead OF ideal
reasons-for the collective assertion OF
Germanism in international Affairs and
for the security OF the small Federal
States Ia their dealings with the larger.
II is a curious and interesting fact that
much as was undoubtedly taken from the
constituent States by the Federal Consti-
tuition under which the empire and its
tablished the States have become stronger
for having abdicated no inconsidersble
portion Of their original rights. For in
stance. their Independent existence has
been assured permanently; their SOW
ereigns have been confirmed in their
prerogatives. and many more or less
oligarchic constitutions survive to-day
which might have disappeared had these
sovereigns remained isolated and de-
pendent on their individual strength.
mo one can doubt that monarchy-us
the word in a broad sense, as implying
every system of hereditary personal gov
ernment represented In the federation
is at least a. strong to-day in Germany
as ever II was in it's history. In spite Of the
endeavors Of the Social Demo-
cratic party to famIliarize the masses Of
the people with the vocabulary OF repub-
licanism."
The author OF this book is convinced
that not merely in Prussia. but in the
smaller kingdoms and principalities the
intrinsic and traditional power OF the
Crown Is greater than ever. In some
States It has been strengthened by the
Of the rulers; in others. by we'll
concessions TO progressive
political ideas or by fear OF the subver-
sive tendencies apparent In modern so
cisties; in all the States the institution OF
has deepened its roots in the
soil OF local patriotism. We are reminded
of Prince Bismarck's theory that German
patriotism could not exist independently
,f dynastio attachments, Mr.. Dawson
also is inclined to acknowledge that to-
lay, no less than before the empire was
the strongest appeal to Ger
mans is that which Is addressed to them
rs Pr,issians, Saxons, Bavarians, Wur-
Badeners. and that real
though their pride in the empire is and
,esolute though their determination to
It at all costs, the subjects OF
sven the smallest unit In the federation
would calmly see the empire pass away
'ather than sacrifice the independence
II their own marrow Fatherland."
Whether We regard the feeling OF the North
,r tho South. the conclusion seems irre-
,istible that the great task OF imperial
In the future will be TO
convert Prussians. Saxons. Bavarians and
Nurtembergers into Germans and TO
,ause the empire to take place Of greater
confidence in the consciousness OF the
nation.
According to Mr.. Dawson one OF the
strongest reasons for the more chastened
mood OF modern imperialism Ia the prevail
ng disappointment with the political sys-
em which was created as part Of the
Of the empire. The Reichstag
all parties. and for this dis
'atisfaction the parties themselves are
blamed. By it's constitution.
,owever. the Reichstag Ii an attempted
between theories OF govern
nent essentially incompatible-the active
theory embodied in the local
Of most Of the constituent
states and the democratic theory en-
bodied in the Western parliamentary
'ystem exemplifed in England. II Is
rue that the ReichstaR is elected by man.