The map of Europe is certain to undergo some very decided changes
within the next decade, very possibly in less time. Social and
economic conditions, let alone the paramount political ambitions of
the individual rulers, must bring about a decided alteration in state
boundaries in Central Europe. This will be accomplished either with
or without war--with bloodshed most likely. History and human
propensities have shown the inability to settle any vital points by
peaceful arbitration and the more one comes in contact with the
forces, obvious and otherwise, directing human affairs, the more one
learns the rather disheartening fact that the millennium is as far off
as ever. The prophecies of the old Biblical prophets about wars and
rumors of wars are as pertinent to-day as before the advent of Christ.
The methods may have changed since the conception of the Christian
religion but the results will be attained now as ever by the right of
a mighty sword arm.
The most virile and aggressive power in the center of Europe is
Germany proper--this term of Germany, including the whole of the
Teutonic races, such as the German-speaking portion of Austria,
Hungary (for your true Hungarian is a keen admirer of strength and
force), Holland, Switzerland and in all probability the Norsemen and
Viking branches of the Teutonic clan, meaning Sweden, Norway and
Denmark. Social and commercial aims and aspirations in Sweden, Norway
and Denmark, independent as they are and probably always will be,
still show a decided trend to Central Germanic cohesion. The whole of
Europe is roughly divided into three dominant races--the Teutonic, the
Latin and the Slavish. The Teutonic has Anglo-Saxon, Germanic and
Norse subdivisions. The Latin, Gallic, has the French, Italian and
Spanish nations; and the Slavonic comprises the Slavs and Romanic
races with their innumerable subdivisions such as Moscovite, Chech,
Pole, Croat, Serb, Bulgar, Bojar, etc. These three groups are
distinctly different in habits, thoughts, manners and ambitions.
Through race and religion they are also deeply antagonistic by reason
of its higher commercial development (I do not say education, and art,
music or literature, for there your Latin or Slav excels), the
Teutonic races have outstripped the other two. Commercialism means
consolidation and concentration and since the Napoleonic wars the
Germanic races--at the beginning slowly but within the last
twenty-five years rapidly--have drawn together at an astonishing pace.
In countries such as Belgium, Holland, Denmark and Switzerland, each
possessing their own petty machinery of expensive government; existent
only through the mutual jealousies of their bigger neighbors, there
has grown up a decidedly incorporating spirit. Notwithstanding the
natural disinclination of the ruling factions of that country, the
general mass of the people are by no means averse to become members of
a vast central European empire, the unswerving ambition of the house
of the Hohenzollerns.
Since the days when the Counts of Nuremburg became electors of
Brandenburg, from the grosse Kurfurst, Frederick the Great, to the
present Emperor, the house of Hohenzollern has shown itself to be the
most virile dynasty in modern history. Not always clever, they
possessed the rare faculty of finding, developing and using men having
the necessary ability to execute their current policies.
In thoroughly feudal and aristocratic countries such as comprise
Central Europe, especially Germany, decided, unswerving aims are
necessary. If these policies are conducted in a clear, level-headed
manner, judiciously developing the wealth and culture of the general
masses, the stability of such a government or throne is well-nigh
unshakable.
It has often been spoken and written that in countries such as Germany
and Austria, Socialism, to quote but one of the numerous "isms," has
undermined existing governmental powers. To a close student, these
assertions are absolutely wrong. Teutonic Germanic races have ever
been given to deeply analytical, philosophical studies, criticising
and dissecting, the policies of their rulers. But underlying, you
will find a deeply practical sense and appreciation of material
benefits. The German Socialist is in fact a practical dreamer, quite
in contrast to his mercurial, effervescent Latin prototype. The
rulers of Germany have learned the lesson that the stability of a
throne rests in the welfare of her people and everyone must admit that
they have succeeded in this respect better than any other dynasty
known to history. Germany without doubt is the most uniformly
prosperous and civilized country in the world. And therein lies the
danger, as no sane and prosperous business can afford to stand still.
Neither can a solvent virile nation such as Germany, mark time. For
this reason: Two things must happen in the near future. Germany must
expand peacefully in Europe, to the northeast and west; or there will
be war. The reasons for this I gave in the chapter on "The Isolation
of France."
And that the chances of peaceful and really sensible adjustment are
thoroughly discounted among German men of affairs, must be pretty
obvious to the careful reader. An intensely practical and saving
people such as the Germans would not spend billions in money, a vast
amount of time and labor, in perfecting and keeping up a fighting
machine without being thoroughly convinced of the necessity of this
investment. Strong, wealthy and powerful as Germany is to-day, the
strain is tremendous and for this reason alone existing political and
geographical conditions in Europe must undergo a decided change.
These changes are bound to occur but it is hard to set a correct time.
It may be to-morrow; it certainly will not be more than a decade
hence. The death of the Emperor Francis Joseph will precipitate it at
once--and he is old and feeble.
Secondly, the Church. The mainstay of the Catholic Church rests with
the Austrian monarchy and with the death of the old Emperor, it
would--in fact have to--look to some other country and ruler for
protection. There is no Catholic ruler in a Catholic country to-day
able to support and protect the dignity of the Church. The German
Emperor is a Protestant monarch, but he is first and last a Christian,
and thanks to his usual keen and far-sighted policy, backed up by
strong spiritual convictions, religious dissensions are almost unknown
in his empire. The Catholic religion enjoys in no country, save the
United States, more real freedom from persecution than it does in
Germany. And the Emperor's personal standing with the Vatican is
excellent. I need only remind the reader of his perennial visits to
the King of Italy when he never fails to visit the Vatican, paying his
respects as the ruler of twenty-seven millions of Catholics, if you
please, to the keeper of Peter's keys.
In my work, I have met eminent dignitaries and princes of the Catholic
Church who voiced pretty freely--that is for churchmen--their
confidences, willingness of their support to the Emperor's general
policies.
THE BUFFER STATE OF THE NORTH
As Germany has provided herself with a buffer state and ally in
Southern Europe, meaning Turkey, so she has cleverly succeeded in
creating a similar condition in the extreme north of Europe. Sweden
and Norway, at no time friendly to the Moscovite--you need only recall
the days of Charles XII--have within the last few years developed a
strong martial feeling against Russian aggression. Both countries are
intensely patriotic and independent and would not on any account
tolerate incorporation. Germany does not want Norway and Sweden, and
Scandinavia knows that. They also know that Russia, having a free
hand, does want them. Hence they are looking towards Germany to keep
a national independence. With German help, Sweden and Norway could
maintain, transport and place three-quarters of a million of
first-class fighting men in the field and that at strategical and
crucial points of the Russian Empire.
The personal domination of the house of Hohenzollern even outside
political matters is tremendous, by virtue of great wealth and
marriages,--the Emperor's sons having married the most wealthy
princesses in Europe--besides the privately invested fortunes of the
Emperor, giving him a tremendous in fluence in commercial affairs.
Wilhelm holds the thunderbolt that will shake the world.