The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-03-09
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Marvellous Wave Of New National
ths That .. Sweeping Around the
Earth-Turkey's New Regime Con-
sttutss Huge Human Problem.
ey WILLIAM r. ELLIS.


Constantinople-The man who lifts
his head above his own neighborhood's d
ANAL s-and that's the fashion now-a-
oay3-nnds himself confronted with
whole cycle Of world problems. II
Ne knows how to put two and two to-
gsther he prscieves that the present
fsrment is what Mr.. Roosevelt called
In his Berlin speech world move
ment" While as individual, and dis
dnct as human nature and racial char.
acteristics. II Jet presents the same
general features everywhere. Front
and foremost is the new expression
of the national spirit.
This may fairly be called the big
eest news In the world. and I have
undertaken to follow Il through
Europe and Asia. While the Journal
istc historian naturally cannot see It
a clearly a. the student of a genera
ton hence. he none the less cannot
fall to perceive the outstanding as
poets Of this ancient human drama
which is teing enacted before his
eyes. The theme is one calling for
the arts of the poet and the dramat.
Int rather than for those Of q mere
chronicier Of the obvious or the easily
ascertatnable. Americas deer inter-
nal agitation and mood of self-exam-
nation are . case In point.
An Instance From ireland.
The nrst time outside of North
America on this tour Of investigation
whore I came into contact with the
awakening Of the old and dormant
national consciousness was In West
Ireland. I was In the poor fishing
village outside Of Galway called the
Claddagh, where survive the purest
blooded Irish stock. Everybody spoke
. tongue strange to my ears, but q
genial coster shifted his dudeen and
good naturedly explained to me. "Ev.
cry nation ought to have their own
language you know and uso that" A
similar revival of the Gaelic may be
found In parts Of Scotland. Indeed
old Scotia as q whole shows a rest
fventss under the Anglicisation that
10 In progress and asserts her own
national character even to the extent
Of calling the Scottish members of
Parliament sharply to account.
6ritain's Big Scare.
Great Britain as a whole, and esoe-
ciaily England. has within the past
half decade been scared into q new
national self.consciousness. The sit
uation looks strangely like a case of
blue funk to an outsider. John Bull
Has displayed something more closely
akin to hysteria than he has been
accused OF for q long time. The ma
tion has hurriedly built Dreadncughts.
organized territorial forces, reorgan-
lied her army. created the Boy Scouts.
and Is now clamoring for an airship
Meet lest Germany should suddenly
gobble her up over night.
With Germany he new mood Is CO.
extensive with the reign of Emperor
William ana the power Of Bismarck.
IL In frankly avowed imperialism.
Even the tourist may see that Ger.
many Is the most efficier, nation In
Europe. Its organization running
down into all departments of life. and
becoming Objectionable paternrlism
I'm many respects. Is paralleled OILY
~ the case Of her pupil, Japan. Ger.
many has gone In for world.dominion.
commercial, II not political.
Whether the emperor dreams more
Who can say? The observer cannot
help wondering what may be the In.
spiration and significance of the Ma
poleon cult which has such vogue In
Germany. / have watched the en-
reror as he sat for nearly four mortal
hours on horseback reviewing 10000
of his troops. and the occasion was
ominous.
Whatever the militarism In Ger.
many portends. certainly she is win.
ming the commercial world. especially
nom Great Britain. However heart
NY Germany may be disliked abroad
and she seems to have few friends
she In successful in spite of ill-will.
Crossing to France and Spain one
hnds evident symptoms of a new
awakening there. The 'laissez faire"
attitude has been abandoned, and
frances experience is even now being
repeated In the realm of King AL.
phonsc. And Portugal is a republic!
The Lesser Nations Alert.
The little nations are doing won.
ders. Bulgaria. now nominally as
well az actually. independent, has
forged powerfully to the front In the
Balkans. Her army is the dread of
Turkey. the concern of other powers,
and the hope Of Greece. Finland and
Poland. robbed OF their independence,
and under heavy yoke. are yet show
ing the power OF this revivifying ma
tionai spirit by their dogged adher-
snce To- their national ideals and Ian.
Suage. Hungary cIIngs To It's own
tongue. and In Budapesth the carriage