Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Quarter of a Century.] MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8. 1904 PARTIES IN GERMANY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 7685, 8 February 1904, Page 4

Wairarapa Daily Times [Established Quarter of a Century.] MONDAY, FEBRUARY 8. 1904 PARTIES IN GERMANY.

The difference between parties in the State of Germany is often very sharply defined in the Reichstag when Count yon Bulow finds himself called upon to reply to representatives of the people. The Socialists are becoming more and more clamorous, and the Chancellor's replies have an unyielding ring about them that, though it proves his fidelity to principle and party, gives no hope of conciliation. The position of affairs in Germany appears to be entirely inconsistent with the policy of extension that the Kaiser has adopted. It might have been expected that in tho new dream of an Empire beyond the sea a good deal of discontent would have evaporated, and the difference between parties been healed. In the time of our own Tudor Sovereigns, the discovery of treasure in America, and the possibilities it opened up to enterprise, quickly soothed much internal disturbance, and diverted men's thoughts from old sores to progressive aims. But, with Germany, the new policy has not had this effect. There has been no popular enthusiasm about oversea settlements; colonisation so far has been simply official occupation. The causes of discontent are still malignant sores, and every day intensifies tho discontent of the people. A certain traditional splendour invests the Kaiser in the national eye, and so long as economic questions do not press too heavily, that is sufficient to protect his person and throne. But, of late, economic problems have begun to displace all others; the German national complacency has been succeeded by the sharp promptings of necessity. Commercial rivalry has awakened new intelligence, and an insatiable demand for fair practical conditions of life, in accordance with the progressive note of the age. The Kaiser makes the mistake of believing it possible to combine a modern progressive external military policy with military despotism. Such an unequal balance of the political fabric cannot last long, and the end draws near.

We have felt that Japan was in earnest from the outset to fight Russia and that war was inevitable. The coming war may be the most awful and disastrous visitation recorded in history. Without counting other nations, Russia, Japan and China represent a population of

about five hundred and fifty millions of people, and the two latter powers, numbering four hundred and fifty millions, are so crowded and suffocated within their own territories that any extraordinary strain must mean famine and privation to millions of human beings. We expect that every effort will be made to isolate the two primary belligerents and there is just a possibility of the issue being decided between their respective navies, so that the campaign will be exclusively naval. If so, a short, sharp, deadly struggle on the Beas may end the situation. Otherwise, it may be one, two, or even three years before peace, with healing on its wings, adjusts the Eastern question. The resources of both Russia and Japan are equal co a three years' campaign, but the cost of such a warfare in human life and in human treasure will be enormous and unprecedented. Tbe civilised world is to Ibe once more " staggered " on a colossal scale.