El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-07-08

almost 10 the entire excursion OF the
rest Of the world. the fruits OF that
great development. Continental Eu-
rope was left PROSTATE by the great
Napoleonic wars and was in no cOndi-
ton, either political or social TO take
advantage Of the new era of commerce.
While France struggled to reform itself
into a nation, while the German states
were quarreling and pickering with
each other, while Italy was torn by
internal strife, while Russia and Tur-
key were at each others threats, Eng
land was building steamships, erecting
factories and making money. America
was yet too young to count
Then came the Franco-Prussian war
and the treaty of Berlin. These events
fixed the fluid political affairs of con-
tinental Europe and left the nations an
opportunity to engage in industry. The
United States began it's wonderful in
dustrial development. About 1880 the
great commercial and Industrial Eng
land began to feel the force of COM
petition. The. United States and Ger
many were the leaders among the new
rivals.
Prosperity on Wane.
Thirty years have gone by. and while
England is still at the head of the
list of exporting nations, it has lost
much ground. It is no longer prosper
GUS Ireland has less than half the
population it possessed so years ago.
Scotland sees every year more of its
farms turned into game preserves
Southern and eastern England suffer
from a terrible agricultural depression.
London is constantly battling with
starvation for a third of its people
Only Lancashire and its cotton mills,
fhA Mid1an
Cornwall and its collieries, the sea
ports and their shipbuiIding yards are
still prosperous. The people as a whole
are not so well of as the Germans or
the French, not nearly so prosperous
as the Americans.
German manufactured articles go
forth from German hives OF industry
on German merchant ships TO every
quarter Of the globe. In China, IN
Europe. even in Australia. and in In
dia, the British merchant must meet
every day the keen competition Of the
German. The conservative English
man formed his business habits when
there was no competition and he is
lOath to change them. The German has
no habits or customs that he will not
abandon to please the whim Of even
the smallest customer. The inadapt-
ible BritOn is al last face to face with
the limitations of his own conventions
Hope Based on Navy.
Bad as conditions have become, seen
from the British standpoint. there is
still hope long as the navy is su-
preme- Without the navy there is no
hope. Suppose Germany were TO strike
tomorrow. There would be no warn
ing, only a sharp ultimatum demand
Ing impossible concessions and then the
attack. Merchant vessels would be IN
safe, and England's supply of food, 1t
produces only one-fourth of what it
eats; and of raw material. 1t produces
less than one-ffth Of what It manufac-
lures; would be curtailed Factory or
ders would be Cancelled and the mills
would close. Food prices would soar
and the one-third on the verge of star
walton would be pushed over
Suppose the British North sea fleet
would be defeated in battle. Within "a
hours the German invasion would be-
gin. The loyal colonies might weep and
vail, but they would be too far away
TO offer material aid English pluck
would resist nightly, but England is
not prepared to resist invasion. The
invaders would triumphantly march
into London The bankers and money
kings of the city would be at the mercy
of the German eagle An indemnity OF
tremendous amount. larger even than
the billion dollars France was forced
to pay, would be levied
Capital Would be Moved.
Within few weeks England would
be degraded TO the position of a third
rate pOwer-about like Portugal The
empire might hold together. subject TO
such toll as Germany desired to take,
but its capital would be removed from
London to Ottawa 1t would be like the
removal of the Roman capital TO Con-
stantinOple. In time England might
recover a measure Of prosperity, but il
never could hope to be more than a
densely populated island OF the coast
of Germany. 1t is the realization OF
the tremendous stake at issue which
causes EngHshmen to lie waking IN
their beds. Englishmen must and VII
pay the price 70 keep their navy the
strongest. to guarantee their suprem-
acy at sea. On the day that navy shall
fail the sun will set forever on the
wreck and ruin of the once great Brit
ish empire.
Tomorrow-Iv, The Fear of the
Dreadnought.