Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-10-17
a Lesson From Germany.


see results of vital Importance to them
selves and posterity, will study the
following land it's meaning) from the
| Naw York Journal of Commerce and
! Commercial Bulletin;
| Whatever may be the military ana
politieaI results of the war that is rag
| ing in Europe, one lesson is being I'M
pressed upon the attention of the ma
lions with peculiar force. That is the
great power that has been developed
! in Germany in the course of single
generation by the cultivation OF ener-
gy, efficiency and attention TO eco
nomic details. This has not been dis
played alone in building up Its arma-
ments on land and sea and training
and disciplining men for the work OF
destruction. 1t has been equally de-
voted to developing and Strengthening
the agencies of production and of com
merce by which the products of indus
try are interchanged to create the
prosperity and welfare of the people
and the wealth and power of the ma
ton. 1t is this that has made the en-
pire so formidable and enabled it to
combination of enemies. 1t is this that
has given 1t such a prospect OF en-
durance in the terrible conflict IN
which it is engaged and bellies all pre-
dictions that it will speedily exhaust
its resources and suffer an early ana
humiliating defeat. 1t is the economic
development of Germany that has
made it's military policy possible and
is it's chief support.
The ruling class of the empire and
the intellectual forces which nave
worked together for national power
with a view of extension and expan-
sion by fighting for it wherever IL
might be deemed necessary, have peen
equally devoted to building up pro-
ductive industries and deVislng I'M
proved methods of creating values and
economizing costs and of distributing
and interchanging the fruits with in
creasing gain. To this science and in
vention have been directed by the
keenest and best trained minds, To
this education and discipline in schools,
in factories and workshops, in the
marts of trade and in commercial and
professional offices, have steadily con-
L
lev of the Government and has been
accepted by the people with results
that have begotten jealousy and fear
in other nations, inasmuch as 1t has
been accompanied by the militarism
which was regarded as menace TO
the peace of the world. The result
has been that, with an area less than
our State of Texas. without exceptional
national resources on the whole and
with some disadvantages with refer
ence to communication with the rest
of the world, Germany has gained IN
less than 40 years the position 1t holds
in the forefront of industrial and conf
mercial nations. -.
The theory of its rules has been that
| il could not accomplish this without
making itself formidable as military
power, with readiness not only to tight
for the defence of its material interests
within its own domain and on the
highways of the sea, but for their
forcible extension over the domain
held or claimed by others If it should
find that practicable and conducive to
its imperial sway. 1t is this policy or
extension by force where obstacles
might be encountered which 1t would
be worth while to overcome, that
has finally resulted in this terrible war,
which may destroy the fruits of all
this strenuous effort and compel the
abandonment of the theory upon which
it is based. Is there any reason why
a nation should not develop its re-
sources, build up it's industries and
trade, train it's people to efficiency and
economy in production and in the
processes by which the fruits of pro-
duction are garnered and the welfare
of its people is advanced, without the
costly accompaniment of being pre-
pared to fight its way in the world
with huge ornaments?
If this policy of militarism as a
means of developing and maintaining
| the material advancement and pros
| perity of nations should prove to be q
| failure and be discarded by the con-
cert and agreement Of the leading
Powers, would it not be vast gain tc
mankind, including the people of Ger
| many and all who are In alliance OF
in sympathy with them? If the ener-
gies bestowed upon preparation FOL
war We're added to those devoted &c
| winning the victories OF peace, Wouio
not the rivalry of nations in producing
and interchanging the fruits of theil
labor bring greater treasures of wealth
and comfort, higher culture and
more general and enduring well-being
In the rivalry and competition of ma
lions one does not profit by the losses
of others. In honorable dealing the
gains are mutual and there is common
benefit in a general prosperity. Ger
many would lose none of it's capacity
| for leading the world, no nation would
be deprived of it's advantages or hav'
it's disadvantages increased, If a gen
eral policy could be adopted of re
speeting each others rights, correcting
existing wrongs and settling all dis
putes by peaceful methods. The wa
and it's causes are calculated to i'm
press that lesson and 1t is to be hopet
that its terrible cost will induce 1t
acceptance.
What would Germany's economi
development have been if relieved o
the burden of armament We nigh
| wall emulate tho studied devotion {