The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1914-08-18
Pan-Gernnanism

Editors Note: This concludes .
series OF four artlcles In which 10
given I resume Of Prof. Roland q.
The Palladium has given this con-
donation Of the book 70 its read
ere In the belief that Il will b
found very helpful In interpreting
the complications which make the
present European war % difficult
for an American to understand.
70 grasp the full sweep and
strength OF Prof. Usher's arou-
ments, the four articles should be
read In continuity.
Pan-Germanism, as the first article
in this resume explained, aims at moth
ing else than the complete domina-
ton Of Europe by Germany. One of
the chief aims of the present war. as
the third article described, is to keep
the wealth borrowd from France and
England without repayment. 1t was
also indicated that this aim can do
nothing but destroy the very structure
of modern business and with 1t mod
ern civilization. Can this vast and I'M
scrupulous scheme succeed? The Pan.
German believes with all his heart that
it can but Prof. Usher, in his great vol
ume which is here being reviewed, be-
lieves there are fatal weaknesses In
the plan which predestinate~ it to de-
feat.
"Pan-Germanism 10 weakest at the
center. Without the cooperation of
Austria and Italy, the scheme Is i'm
possible" Italy has already refused to
take part in the war and thus has al
ready made it practically impossible
for the Germans and Austrians to win.
Besides, it is an open question wheth-
er the Pan-Germans can sweep their
own people along with them.
The scheme has never taken well. in
Southern Germany, especially in those
portions which dislike Bismarckism
and which are opposed to Prussiani-
zation.
The united strength of Austria Hun
gary is also essential. But can Austria
Hungary throw her entire strength
into the struggle? It is extremely
doubtful. The dual empire is made up
of many peoples, many of which are
filled with the most bitter hatred for
each other. Their Quarrels have filled
the history of Europe with discord: a
number of irreconcilables who wish
to overthrow the present government
and to substitute for it anything else
whatsoever is extremely large and
seems to be increasing rather than
decreasing"
If Pan-Germanism Is to succeed, II
must have the support of the Balkan
nations. 1.-THE great district known az
the Balkans is an absolutely essential
factor of the Pan-German confedera
ton, yet there is no part of all Eu
rope which lacks SO cOnspicuOusly geo
graphical, political and racial unity.
1.-The Balkans hate each other so cor
daily the states which have attained
political existence contain within theil
own borders so many elements of dis
cord that it might almost be claimed
that the only elements of unity are the
vigorous hatred that they all bear the
Turk and the intense suspicion with
which they all regard Austria anc
Russia"
Another impossible link in Pan-Ger
manism is Turkey, but "the ineptitude
of the Turkish government has become
a by-word of statesmen"
AS the nations now stand, they arr
mere temporary considerations. "Ou
of such material Pan-Germanism pro
poses to create another confederation
whose basis will be even more slender
than that of any confederation out O
which it is to be made and whose con
tinued existence will necessarily b,
daily exposed to the assaults of inter
nal enemies. A vital change in any on
of the declarations composing it woult
in all probability have fatal effect OF
the great entity.
1T is not too much to say that tn
success of the whole scheme depend
absolutely upon the stability and Ell
ficiency of Germany and Austria" Blu
can this stability be depended upon