Omaha daily bee., 1910-09-05

( cause they are afraid. while the Germans
are building for attack. because they are
not afraid. Germany believes in its destiny.
1t is enslaved by its traditions Of military
| conquest, It believes it is able to whip the
English. and in the fulluess Of time IL
expects the war to come on and to result
in German victory even greater than
that Of Prussia over France forty years
ago.
1t is almost impossible to exaEgerate
the confidence Of the Germans, even as IL
Is impossible to overestimate the fright
Of the Brtons. But In Germany, as In
England, the jingostic element IL held In
check to considerable degree by the
sentiment of that section OF the demo-
cracy which looks upon war as an econo-
mic evil. While this sentiment may for the
time being promote the interests of peace
1t is in fact the most dangerous element
in the entire situation.
German aristocracy fears more than II
has ever before feared anything, human
or divine, the gathering force Of the social
democratic party In the last general cleo
ton this party poled more votes than any
other of the six principal German parties
In every by-election since held the social
democrats have made such startling gains
that even with the grossly unfair gerry
mander, It would not be surprising II n
general election now would result in giving
the social democrats practical control of the
imperial parliament. Such a victory would
presage the overthrow of the German
aristocracy, and would mean political
upheaval unprecedented In scope since the
days of the French revolution.
Against the social democracy the Ger
man aristocrats have but one weapon-an
appeal to the patriotism and to the milf
tary instincts of the masses OF the people
Every able-boded man in the nation is a
soldier. He has a soldiers laundering for
war. 1t may come to the point where the
arstocracy will consider It necessary in
order to conserve their own privileges TO
bring about war A war would result in
strengthening the devotion of the people
to the present regime.
In Germany as in England, the domestic
political affairs of the Tory element would
be vastly bettered by a successful foreign
war, II the British tories came into power.
and were reasonably certain that they
would win war might soon be declared.
In Germany the Tories are in control, and
the only consideration that deters them
from launching into war is the fear that
they are not yet strong enough on the sea
to insure success. Once let them, by
means Of their systematic and efficient
methods. be convinced that they could win
in war with England, war would take
place, The billions of gold extorted from
bleeding France in 1870 have been ex-
hausted-London has much gold and the
English people are very rich. This Is a
temptation always before the eyes of your
German lingo.
Germany is true 70 the best traditions
of the Hohenzollern line in the character of
tfu dfVNlAf t1lr NHs. nsna ay,A
Bismarck left to Prussia n legacy Of ter
ntory ana power gained by combining the
forces Of deceptive diplomacy and sudden
war. If Germany does go to war with
England 1t Will be without warning.
| There is no lack OF quarrel that would
suffice in case Germany decided to attack.
The German emperor during the last dozen
years has made himself a practical pro-
tector OF the Mohammedan peoples OF tho
world, In Turkey, in Morocco. In Arabia
and in Persia the kaiser has shown himself
to be a friend and patron Of the Moham-
medan princes, There is potential trouble
| in Egypt and should there be open rebellion
in the land OF the Pharoahs the kaiser
might feel himself called upon to inter
vene 1t must be remembered that the
British have no legal right to their oc-
cupacy Of Egypt, which is a nominally in
dependent country under the nominal
suzerainty of the sultan OF Turkey. The
kaiser has interfered in behalf OF the sub
lime porte heretofore, and he might do II
again, especially II he thought It possible
to win control OF the Suez canal as the
prize OF successful war with Britain.
This is only one of the many things upon
which a quarrel might be managed. The
real question is whether Germany is con-
WINGED that 1t would be successful in the
war and whether the German aristocracy
believes 1t TO be necessary TO go to the ex-
tent OF precipitating a foreign war to stave
off the rising tide of domestic democracy.
By FREDERIC ]. HAsKIN.
Tomorrow-wn England and Germany
Fight9