The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1913-03-10

Great Britain is not the laughing stock Of the
world nation Of Englishmen with the his
tory Of their race behind them would have great
dif1culty try as they might, In reaching that
point In spite OF all the antics OF the inhabi-
tauts Of the isle the memory Of Alfred and
Richard and Simon de Montford and Cromwell
and Marlborough and Wellington and Gladstone
would persist and even today their Efforts would
be partially Offset by the appreciation of the
greatness Of Lloyd George and the ability Of
Asquith and Balfour Nevertheless, 1t is not
the fault Of the present generation that the whole
wide world is net laughing at Great Britain and
despite the past victories of peace and war writ,
ten in the pages Of history that that mighty ma,
ton IS not a fit subject for raicule.
The Incompetence with which the conditions
created by the militant suftragettes has been
handled may be passed over With the reminder
that suuh condition has never before been
met In England or iu other country and that
the English are slaves OF precedent New situa-
lions are never wen handled by them and though
in the end by doeeed persistence and aduira-
BILE though slow moving intellects, they always
cope with them in the best way, the beginning
is seldom to the credit Of the Engltshman.
But it is not the sufragette disorders which
is doing the most to bring Great Britain into
ridieule and even into contempt though the lat
ter is not justified as those who condemn them
will dnd to their sorrow should they be spurred
thereby into aggression. The responsible ones
are the jingoes Of the once fndomitabIe and
impertur5able country Intoxicated by fear
OF Germany they have been seeing things" for
SO long that they are persuaded that raey are
realities and have accomplished the feat Of
making others believe in their existence. Their
newspapers have been filled with dire predic-
tons of attack by Germany ana their public
officials have so frequently expressed the fear
o. invasion that the psychological effect has been
felt upon the minds Of the Germans. So in
sistent have been the prophets Of woe and 50
certain are they that Germany could destroy
the island whenever feeling so inclined that the
Germans have begun to think the same thing
themselves Once they regarded the military
strength of Great Britain with respect. but they
are now beginning to take the jingoes Of that
nation at their word and respect is turning
to contempt The newspapers Of the kaiser's
empire are waxing exceedingly -facetious at the
seek to frghten them as boys Brighten their
rlaymates by "booing" The nightmares seen
by the people across the channel are seized
upon with unholy glee and others more ridicul-
Gus. If such be possible manufactured for
the dedication Of the German readers. Chill
dIen's stories Of what Germany is preparing to
do are told to the frightened iingoes Of the
once respected nation ard all Germany chortles
With Joy. but these stories are scarcely more
childish than some Of those given currency by
the English press and English officials
In short Germany fears God, but nobody else
in the world" not even England The saying
OF Bismarck is true today, though not when the
iron man made the boast
Germany Of course, Is making a mistake
All Englishmtn are not jingoes and all English
men do not drink their tea in fear Of the kaisera
troops and the kaser's battlesbips Most En-
elishmen have faith in their own might and
although they may unite with the jingoes in
demanding a larger navy and better trained
army they are not awakened from their sleep
at night by nightmares. Germany no longer
fears Eneiand--doos not even respect her, i'll
fact-but Germany will lose her disrespect il
not her fear. after an engagement. The trou
he with this is that there will be no engage
ment and in the meantime Germany bosses
Europe. the seeptrc having passed from Great
Britain, and fear of the lion having vanished
For this the weak-kueed jiugoes are response
bic
From this the jingoes Of this country might
take lesson. No nation wishes or dares to
,Ir L. al