Page:The National Geographic Magazine Vol 16 1905.djvu/143

Rh The Technical High School at Stuttgart, Germany

with those of Germany. German steel thus meets German steel ; German armor, put on in Germany, turns to meet German armor. On the basis of self-protection and national defense the Empire cannot be criticized for wishing to close its industrial institutions to the rest of the world.

Russia probably profits most in this international educational game. Her students are found in institutions everywhere. Through personal contact with some of these the writer was surprised to note their broad intelligence, their mental keenness, and their linguistic accomplishments. Many of these men speak four or five languages with ease.

The Emperor a few years ago issued the watchword, "The future of the German Empire lies on the seas." It had a force similar to Bismarck's famous declaration that "The nation that has the schools has the future." Commerce and industry were the great hope then, and commerce and industry remain the ambition today. Education was chosen as the powerful weapon with which to attain this future. Today this weapon is but just making itself felt. The industrial schools are still young. In the future more will be heard from the young merchants and manufacturers who daily go out from these institutions. The greatest danger of Germany to the world is probably not in war, but in peace. Her energy is turned to conquests in the industrial world. Her marvelous development is industrial, not political.