The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1909-05-17
ENGLAND AND GERMANY.
Hhat' the Former Must Do to Keep Hes
Great Place Among the Nations.

To THE EDITOR or THE SUX-Sir: Leav-
Ing out OF consideration tho lesser events
In European history during b last bot
years. II would seem that each OF tho great
n~ations. spain. France, England and Ger
many, reached It's relative xenlth OF power
In turn In about $50 years. Thus Frances
rise began With Riobelieu and ended with
the Seven Years war In America. England
was mistress OF the world during the eieh-
teenth and the 1rst half Of the nineteenth
century. Notwithstanding the msteohc
career OF the frat Napoleon.
Germany's rise dates back to the middle
Of the nineteenth century, and she 10 The only
Power in Europe to-day that AN presura-
ably the now lingering British su-
prsnAoy. The rise OF Germany TO tbs dstri-
ment Of England has caused alarm In
some quarters. Students Of history are
generally Of the opinion that an absolute
German asceudency. now or In b near
future. would be a great calamity. To
assign England to q second place at this
time wonld be q menac to . further peace
full and progressive development Of the
liberal ideas and institutions she frst rave
to The modern world. 1t would be almost
az great q calamity for Germany II the lead
ership came to her now by chance or by tho
fortunes OF war. for she 10 not yet sum-
GENTLY grounded in truly representative
government to fit her as q world leader,
at least not on the lines on which all English
speaking peoples have developed.
For the changed conditions during the
last nifty years England herself 10 chiefly to
blame. She was well nigh thirty years
ahead In industrial development. her six
hundred million at a time when German
Industrial development was Just begin
ming. She had no competitors at see. and
helped herself to the lands OF the earth and
their riches at will.
On the other hand Germany had to fight
for every inch OF ground In a ferce indus
trial struggle. and her colonies nave % far
be9n q constant source OF expenditure to
hef. She has reached her present place
through untiring energy. discipline. and a
well ordered. highly centralized and al
most autocratic government. She has
won by qualifications that seem to be some-
what In abeyanoe anon the present gen
GRAFTON of EnRlishmen and by adopting
principles in government which run entirely
counter to English intitutions and ideas Of
government and It's functions.
II 10 generally admitted that the Germans
are not q warlike nation. Yet Germany
has become a great military nation since
Bismarck first disregarded the Constitution
OF Prussia. and her unitarian has been the
dominant factor In all her political achieve
ments. What al be accomplished In
England only by public agitation. the
press, and voluntary contributions where
funds are needed for the end In view,
is often done In Germany by clever intlmi-
dation, threats. arbitrary dissolutions. or
by mere fat. The Government owns the
railroads. s%hipyards. mines and forest In
dustry. and ana them az individuals
or corporations-things which so far have
been impossible In England.
The Government created a system Of
Industrial. accident and old age insurance.
and In this way has accomplished one Of
the greatest achievements for the benefit
OF the industrial classes in modern times.
This has made for self-respect. oontentment,
efficiency and Intelligent patriotism on the
part Of the working classes.
What Of England? OF all civilized coun-
tries the percentage Of her paupers IL great
est. Nowhere IL the contrast between the
well to do and the poor &C manifest. It 10
not enough to put them in a~lmshouses
supported by the rates. or to vote expen-
ditures Of money on public works to give
work to the unemployed. There is
thing wrong In England with the training
and discipline Of youth among the work.
tuk CtdSocs. Educate the lnd1Vt0ual to
gain a livelihood. then assure him that he
will not u in old G or in case Of un-
merited misfortune. and you will Zee a
different spirit ~pervading the coming gener-
alton. for Englishmen themselves admit
that the English mechanic OF to-day docs
not compare favorably with the mechanic
Of Germany and France In efficiency.
Free trade principles may be ia part
responsible for periodic depressions and
lack OF employment. Other countries have
found means to overcome the difficulty:
20 must England. but It takes a long time
10 do anything in England.
Dreadnoughts will not save England.
They may delay the reckoning. Discipline
and an awakening to her internal oondi-
will. The regeneration OF England
come from within. Despite her deep
rooted ~prejudices and conservatism Eng
and must adopt some Of the methods OF the
Of her rivals, abandon her
policy OF laissez faire, submit to q sterner
discipline, end accept as an accomplished
act thai the days Of Merry Old England
- g. $1,000