The Break with Germany; the Czar Dethroned

544 IMPROVEMENT ERA

undertaking was the proposition that Germany under certain eventualities should give Mexico certain states of the Union. Germany was helpless to give any substantial aid. Japan's advantages were as far as possible away from the German proposition. Mexico could not conquer Texas singlehanded, to say nothing of the whole United States. That Japan would abandon her rights and opportunities in Asia for any advantages that would come to her from American colonies in the Pacific, or from even western slates of the Union, was entirely unlikely. But will the United States go to war with Germany? The United States prefers that Germany be the first to declare war, that she put us in the defensive attitude; and, in the meantime, the United States will do all that it can to defeat the German submarine in its efforts to interfere with American commerce. There are specific reasons why the declaration of v/ar from Germany would be preferable. We have a large German population in the United States which, in case of a conflict, would undoubtedly be overwhelmingly in favor of the United States, but it would leave the United States open to censure by our Teutonic citizens and create political and commercial complications that after the war would be difficult to solve. In the next place, Germany is fighting against great odds. Our country can afford to be magnanimous, even to an enemy that is so completely surrounded by hostile nations. And it must be remembered, too, that in the highest interests of patriotism, a justification of war is necessary to the well-being of future generations. In great national struggles, it is not easy to foresee a multitude of mysterious influences that may arise in course of a conflict. These influences are powerful in shaping the sentiment of future generations and in providing a moral ground for what is done as a justification for the conduct pursued. These hidden, mysterious, influences have often in them something decisive even in war itself. They are often great contributors in matters of success or failure. They are what Bismarck loved to call "the imponderables." While they cannot be weighed in the logic of human events, they are nevertheless powerful in determining even the fate of nations. If we go to war, what then? Shall we send a large army of men to Europe? Shall we put our navy at the disposal of the allied powers? Neither now seems likely. We may reasonably believe that so far as the United States engages in war against Germany for any reason whatever, it will be rather a defensive than an aggressive war. At any rate we shall probably first endeavor by the construction of torpedo boat destroyers and the manufacture of munitions to rid the ocean as far as possible of submarines and lend aid to the nations which need our assistance. It may be here stated, in closing, that one of the saddest reflections of the war is the terrible sufferings which women and children and the aged have to undergo. No system of distribution in the matter of foods can mete out justice to them, and it is safe to say that the present sufferings in Germany are pitiful beyond the human imagination.

The Russian Revolution

The revolution in Russia, March 15, by which the government of the Czar Nicholas was reported overthrown, sheds some light on the late German advances toward Mexico. The latter appears to have been a mere incident in a big plan. It has been known that there was going on in Russia an intense conflict between the pro-German and the anti-German elements at Petrograd. It is difficult to realize at this distance what a tremendous power German influence has had at the Russian capital. It goes without saying that the Germans, in the matter of training and ability, were more gifted than their Slavonic neighbors. As a consequence hundreds of thousands

THE BREAK WITH GERMANY 545

have taken up business life within the Czar's realms, and hundreds of thousands have secured land concessions which enabled them to carry on a superior kind of agriculture throughout the different parts of Russia. Although the Germans possess the greater enlightenment, those who have gained influence in the court of Petrograd have been among the worst reactionaries. They have opposed the rights of the people and the extension of liberty to the masses. Such a policy was their own preservation. Now that the curtain has been lifted, the propositions to Mexico seem to have been revealed and German diplomacy is more easily comprehended. The fact is, Germany has been using her utmost endeavor to draw a semicircle around the eastern part of her own continent and extend it into Mexico. Germany has foreseen the advantages of a new combination, new alliances. She would go to great lengths to include in them Russia and Japan. It was impossible for Germany to reach Japan directly, so Mexico was made merely a pawn in the game to open up the large purpose of her policy. Remarkable as it may seem, an understanding between Germany end Japan would not be so difficult, provided Russia only could be included. As a matter of fact, the way things stand today, Japan is more interested in what Russia is able to do for her than what can be done for her by any other country. To carry out Japanese policy in the East it is necessary for Japan and Russia to come to some understanding. It would be comparatively easy to disregard the wishes of other nations in the matter. The Germans knew that if they could offer the Japanese the Russian hand of fellowship, an alliance with Tokyo would not be so difficult. For months, to know therefore, it has been a matter of intense interest with Germany whether the re-actionaries or liberals would gain the upper hand in Russia. Germanic influences have been powerful at Petrograd. Indeed, during the decidedly propast two months the prime ministers of Russia have been German The pro-German sentiment has been helped by the fact that religious influences the Czarina is herself a German. Then there developed element. A which may or may not have been assisted by the pro-German Rasputin. His influence bepriest arose who took upon himself the title of the fact of his came very strong throughout Petrograd notwithstanding over the Czarina, then begross immoral conduct. He gained ascendency communicacame influential at court and helped to establish underground with Berlin. Finally he was shot, evidently by members of the options That ended Rasputin, posing party, and his body thrown into the river. influence he had exercised in favor of the reand with him the religious actionaries who are dominated largely by German influences A bread riot It was easy to transfer in the excited condition of Petrograd the occurred riot for bread into a riot for liberty. A revolution at this moment is said of the Czar and the establishment of to have resulted in the dethronement regent. Alexandrovitch is decidedly anti-

— his brother Alexandrovitch as possesses the weakness of the Romanoff family in the dynasty German, but His weakness may, however, aid the situation, from to which he belongs. the Russian Duma to acquire greater power the fact that it will enable to it, just as the and make the ministers of the Czar responsible The anti-German of the King of England are responsible to parliament farther e«orts by Gerdement won in Russia. If the victory is Vej^eat, The latest reports many in the formation of new alliances will be futile.

Romanoff dynasty has come to an end, and that the Reindicate that the public of Russia will be a near event.

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