<"The Tragedy">
This is a story of competition, of Private
| Enterprise, and of the survival of the fittest
|
And it came to pass that, because they were of | an island, and suffered less from the struggle | for survival, and because they were seafarers and | sought trade afar, and because the power of steam | was discovered among them, the Britons became | strong and they dominated the earth.
|And they developed in ideals and from many | lessons. From the lesson of the American | colonies, they caused self government among their | territories and found that it paid.
| And they seized much territory and trade and
| became wealthy, and said,
|
And after Napoleon by his aggression had | forced unity among the central States, there | arose Bismarck and founded the German Empire, and | by blood and iron, and militarism, even as his | forefathers and his contemporaries had done, he | sought to gain for his country a "place in the | sun." And his successors likewise. For the people | were willing, and said, "There is no other way." | Therefore they submitted themselves to despotism | and created yet another Frankenstein monster.
| But the nation grew and multiplied in trade
| and in population, and they looked for an outlet.
|
|
But
| they found everywhere, in Africa, Persia, Asia,
| America, rivals and competitors already in
| possession; or with Britain the ubiquitous,
| blocking the way.
Then the Germans grew bitter, and said,
| rule
|
And they
| prepared to challenge by force.
|
Then the British diplomatists held counsel
| together, and said to the other old nations,
|
|
For competition still governs among nations | with the good old rule, the simple plan, that "He | may take who has the power, and he may keep who | can."
|
the pressman
| said, and the financiers of Europe lay low. For
| Russian and German ambition, each for the outlet
| to the Mediterranean, and the mastery over trade,
| fought long and unscrupulously. Rivalry and
| intrigue in their train brought "unsettled
| conditions," and war.
And Britain set each against each, keeping | Turkey at the Bosphorous, so that none should | become too powerful. For competitors were better | handicapped.
| And the time came when Austria saw the way
| open through Servia to Salonika; and Germany
| also. And they said,
|
So the Tragedy grew. And because Austrian | success was intolerable, Russia intervened. | Because Russia attacked, Germany fought. Because | Germany fought, France also. Because German | success would be dangerous to her interests, | Britain joined in. Each for himself, His Trade, | His Markets, His Profits, His Vested Interests, | His Country, Right or Wrong.
| This is the story of Competition, and the
| Survival of the Strongest, as it was in the
| beginning, now is, and