The commercial. (Union City, Tenn.) 190?-193?, 1914-08-28
THE WAR LORD OF EUROPE
v the The Louisville Courier Journal

in progress. 1t is virtually fight be-
tween Germany and non-German Eu-
rope. The nations which have remained
neutral are anxious onlookers. The
question in their minds is whether Ger
many is to become the leading world
power, with its proven strength for
further aggression, or to retire from the
field with head bloody but still un-
bowed" to await the issue at sea, as the
final answer to the question the Ger
man Emperor has asked of Fate. The
looming figure in the field is that OF the
divine right" ruler, VINO has been de-
scribed as either genius or a para
noiac. F" The terms, insofar as the mill
itary genius which expresses itself in
wars for aggrandizement, are hardly
contradictory. Homicidal mania in
private life causes a man to kill one
man and is called insanity. The same
mania in monarch may pass for con-
structive genius, and, if the fortunes Of
war favor his flag, may prove so.
During the peaceful years of his reign
Emperor Wilhelm H., the half English
ruler of Germany, has so far eclipsed
the record of all other crowned heads
as a promoter Of the welfare OF his
country that had he died last month,
before the precipitation OF war upon
Europe, he might have been called
William the Great" Apparently he
would not have died contented with his
career. Events soon to transpire will
determine whether the "vaulting am
bition" OF the Kaiser made or ruined
him. He will issue from this immeas-
urable war OF his own creation either q
mighty conqueror or a gigantic failure.
Austria would hardly have acted against
Servia without Germany's consent.
When Germany allowed the match to
be dropped in the powder keg it was
with full knowledge that the explosion
would envelope the Continent Of Eu-
rope in smoke.
The German navy is the creation OF
II. and expresses more than
anything else his foreign policy. His
first address after his ascension to the
throne was to the army and navy. His
irst and last thoughts have always been
about building both to invincible pro-
portions. No ruler OF ancient times
rusted more implicitly in the power Of
he sword. And no man has trusted
more implicitly to himself. His virtual
lismsssal Of his great Chancellor, Bis
narck, known as the creator OF the
ierman Empire, and admittedly the
'reatest European statesman of bis
ime, was an act OF daring popularly
eferred to as dropping the pilot. .
he expression refers, of course, to the
arbor pilot by the steamer which is
eady to 60 full steam ahead, with her
row pointing to the high seas under
le direction Of her own skipper.
For quarter Of a century the Ger I
ian ship of state has steamed serenely (
ith the Kaiser in full charge. His
lans have been to expand the German
mpire, building at home for indus {
ial and commercial strength, and t
uilding up military and naval strength {
Efficient to prevent any other power
ON impeding the progress OF Ger
any in any direction. He has been
opularly credited for good many
sars with cherishing, as his greatest
the hope Of whipping Great
ritain and giving Germany the posi-
IN Of first power and Importance
nong the nations. That ambition is
'out to be realized, at enormous ex-
nse in blood and treasure, or hope
ssly and forever defeated. He has
ver expected war between Germany
ID England to be confined to the two
Dwers. No one having even slight 2
quaintanceship with European pol &
cs could look upon such war as :
There is little of the unex- y
cted in the present situation unless it q
Italy's refusal to act with Germany z
d Austria. q
Had Wilhelm III. lived in the period 8
ZEN overseas colonization was in its
'ancy as a European enterprise be Il
uld doubtless have been great Il
'onquistadore, (" through the agency n
German explorers and naval and u
litary officers. But his reign began L
EN- it was necessary for European te
wer's colonization policy TO begin in al
rope, il at all. Foreign possessions in
lst, largely, be wrested from other
wers, and the seas must be poIiced II