The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-02-07

II France purposed trespasslng upon
Belgian soil. Germany refused no give
any reply to the same question, and
her Chancellor then characterized the
hindering treaty as a mere scrap of
paper"
Next, the British answer, We are
fight ting for the right of a small nation
and at the same time for that of all
small nations. The Pan-Germans de-
mand the absorption of all nations that
are in any way related to them, either
by common descent or by language. And
the brave efforts of all such small ma
tons in the past, and their noble aims
toward freedom and independence in
our day, shall they then be rendered
Of no avail?"
Again, the British say. I'VE are fight
ing for democratic self-government
against autoCraCy. 1t is true that Rus
STA is ruled by an absolute government,
but had Alexander II. not been as
sassinated Russia would have had a
free constitution half a century ago,
and at present it has a Duma and is
on the way to constitutional govern
ment. (Such is the loving way in
which we now look upon our great
nOTlntTn dllNts Is a ItDubllN ,
and the Government OF Belgium and
that of Japan are similar to that of
England.
Germany, however, has for The last
forty years made absolutely no consti-
tutional progress. Her Reichstag has
but little influence; Ministerial re-
sponsibility is unknown in that empire
and the masses of Prussia have no vot-
ing power compared with that which
is enjoyed by the rich of that land
The Emperor is the military chief, and
the army and navy are his alone to
dominate"
Furthermore. say our English
friends, I'VE are fighting for the peace
of Europe, for arbitration versus war
for the organization of State based
upon peace rather than upon militar-
ism. The German triumphs of 1864
1866 and 1870 were won by armed
might, and thus military force has
become more and more predominant in
that country. Tretschke writes: We
have conquered Austria; we have hui
inflated France; and the last and most
difficult task Is left that of dominating
England For this purpose Germany's
powerful army, in connection with her
new and strong navy, were to be used.
But first and last, the English say
I'VE are fighting for our very existence
as a nation, the foremost aim of any
country. The fight may be long and
the struggle logged one, inasmuch as
Germany also is battling for her ma
tional life. She numbers within lhel
boundaries many more millions of peo'
pie than we do here In our isles, wht
are united by deep devotion to theil
nation and fatherland that is unsur
| passed in its intensity. II was Ger
manys intention to leave England until
| the last: first to crush France, next t
weaken Russia, and then, and only then
to attack us. And now they are flllet
with hatred toward us because thel
plans have been matted and we hav
stood in the way"
Suppose that everything should ma
terlallze as Germany hoped and frml
expected! what II the fatherlan
should win the battle? What the,
would happen?
Belgium would remain a Germa
province. and, according to Napoleon
the power that should possess Antwer
would hold a pistol pointed at Eng
lands heart. Even II Belgium were t
keep up an appearance of independence
she would be included in the Germa
Customs Union; and the Belgia
Congo would he annexed, thus Jeopai