The Washington times., 1914-09-08
AUTOCRACY'S ERRORS.

How utterly autocracy is incap-
able of understanding the sentiments
of people governed under more en-
iightened systems has ocen illus
I trated a number of times, and most
effectively during the present war.
The Germans made the tremendous
mistake of feeling sure Britain
would not tight. Sne assumed that
Britain, bound to her natural allies
only by the loose bond of an Gun
derstanding," would decline to take
up arms. "My whole policy crumbles
in ruins with this blow" walled the
German foreign minister when he
learned that Britain would fight. He
had not dreamed it. He had been
reading about peace movements and
disarmament propaganda in Britain
fcr years. He supposed Britain was
decadent.
Again, the Germans imagined that
the South African Eoers would rise
against British afiiliation, and give
Britain a whole peck of trouble in
that region. On the other hand, the
Beers, VINO are not ruled from Eng
land at all, but who have rather a
more effective plar of democratic
government. even than our own coun-
try enjoys, had no thought of seek
ing affiliation with the automatically
governed possessions of Germany in
Africa.
Even more grave was the error
cf the Germans whc assumed that
Great Britain was on the eve of
revolution over nome rule. Perhaps
it was. A good many other people
feared that. But in the face Of
foreign war ClStermen and the men
of Cork closed up ranks and stood
shoulder to shCulde- against the out
side foe. Britishers were ready
enough to fight among themselves,
but they were united against autoc-
racy from the outside.
India was the occasion of a?cther
pathetic mistake of the militarist
lcgime at Berlin. There has been a
vast deal of speculation in late
years about the possibility of up-
rising ir India. Germany took it
seriously. She thought it would
keep the empire busy in that
quarter. To the contrary, Germany
is now fighting Sikh regulars from
India, and they are proving effective
troops. They were brought to
France to help fight the Germans,
largely because they wanted to
come, and insisted on a place on the
line Of battle.
There is even a story that the
Germans counted on the United
States to syylpathize with them. be-
cause they assumed that we would
be on the lookout for an excuse and
a Favorable opportunity to grab
Canada. It seems bit pitiful that
government, dealing with the
powers and sentiments Of ali the
world, concerned to know and cor
rectly interpret national and inter
national feelings, should make such
an error. But the German autocracv
judged others by itself. Carada
looked like an .Alsace-Lorraine;
therefore the United States would
of course want it and take it. and.
doing tha., would array itself
against Britain.
Again, Germany calculated with
confdenc" that Italy would Join her
partners of the old triple alliance.
regardless Of the moral aspects of
he war. Bu5 Italy. once more, has
had an experience of popular gov
crnment and institutions. The gov
eminent could not violate the senti- |
ments of the people, and the people |
sympathizcd with their friends of
the west of Europe. VINO were carry
ing the banner Of popular govern
ment.
Errors of this kind MIGHT be
enumerated indefinitely to the dis
credit of autocracy's judgment IF
he purposes that rule nations and
peoples. Greatest of all these mis- /
takes, however, was the ASSUMPTION
that rcadv-nado military machine
was certain to wreck the ir,provised
force put together out of the pat !
riotism and devotion Of free
people. That is not a safe assump- |
ton, as autocracy is discovering.