The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram., 1914-08-13

Editors Note-This begins the
first Of q series Of four articles
giving 4 resume Of Prof. Roland
G. Usher's remarkable and pro-
phetic book "Pan-Germa nism."
Mr.. Usher 10 professor Of history
In Washington University Of st.
Louis and has devoted many years
to expert study Of European poll
tics. His work was written In
1912 and proved SO exact subse-
quent developments have verified
his arguments almost to the letter.
The author of this resume does
not speak for himself but en-
deavors merely to condense for
our readers the substance In this
great book which gives the clear
est and most authoritative inter
probation of the European sltua-
ton yet made. Needless to say,
The Palladium is itself non-com-
initial on the problems raised by
"Pan-Germanism." In these four
articles it's sole aim Is to make
available to it's readers the ilIum-
mating expositions Of the book.
BY OBSERVER.
To the economic student, the great
issue in the present European war is:
Shall the German economic system or
the English economic system prove
superior and gain control of European
business? But to the student OF
politics, the greatest issue in the war
Is: Shall democracy or autocracy
hold the balance of power in the east.
ern hemisphere?
Popular government was a night
mare to Prince Bismarck. 1t worried
him so much that at times it well nigh
wrecked his iron physique and he was
always ready to move heaven and
earth to stave off the day when people
would rule themselves.
True, he did assist in overthrowing
the monarchy in France and did all
he could to encourage the spread OF
democracy in Napoleon's country. But
this in itself was only a Machievellian
subterfuge and was designed to Grip
pie republican France by alternating
her from autocratic Europe.
When the present Kaiser mounted
the throne in Germany, his first act
was to send a proclamation of greet
ing to the army. A similar proclama
ton was sent to the navy on the same
day. In his Enthusiastically bold
manner, he declared that the eyes OF
Alo dACCoIOAS "CI0 1OOhluE
down upon him from the other world
and that he felt it his duty to see
that Germany rose to the supreme
heights of martial strength and power
Three days later he sent his proclama
ton to the people, thus subtly convey
ing to them that in his estimation the
real bulwark of the nation lay not ir
the population itself but in the aristo
cracy with the army and navy as iti
right and left. And he Immediately
set out to be not the "Citizen EN-
peror' of his predecessor but another
Frederick the Great.
This subtle hint of his antipathy tt
popular rule broadened into an un
mistakable fact by his hearty endorse
ment of Bismarck's schemes Of mon
archical Socialism. The people hat
been crying for larger share in thu
prosperity of the country. Let III
give them a larger SHARE" said Bis
marck, "and then they will keep still
and give us no trouble" This Bis
marckian idea of giving the people
just enough to keep them quiet ha
been the guiding principle of tn
Kaiser's policy ever since. And tn
great extent to which the German
masses share in the nations prosper
ity is not an indication of the demo
cratic spirit of the German rulers bu
just the opposite.
Kaiser Williams antipathy to popu