The Washington herald., 1914-11-02
Noble to Die for Country,
Says MunSterberg, Discussing
The "Higher, Gifts of War;

Prof Hugo Munsterberg. Harvard'l
exchange professor at the University OF
Berlin, in his remarkable book. The
War and America" recently issued by
d. Appleton & Co, presents some ad-
vanced ideas on the subject OF world con-
fiicts among nations. In the last chap
ter he says:
The sacrifice Of blood in this war Is
terrific, and the thought of the carnage
must make US shudder in times Of peace.
But the progress OF the world demands
higher point Of view.
Every human being must die. Is there
nobler death than to give ones life
for the better life Of the nation, to die
that the country may live a fuller en-
bodiment Of the national ideals?
For the individual. sudden death on
the battlefield in the overwhelming ex-
citement is much less cruel than the
agonles which millions of deathbeds
bring In peaceful homes
And we ought not to forget the solemn
words Of President Wilson, who, before
the collins OF the victims Of Vera Cruz
said in deep emotion:
I never was under fire, but fancy
that there are some things just as hard.
fancy that II Is just as hard to do
your duty when men are sneering ut
you as when they are shooting at you.
But the sacrifices which the nation
brings in war must anyhow not be viewed
with reference to individuals. II a nation
Is victorious-and the hope Of victory
Is of course the only motive which makes
war possible-the nation may gain ten
lives for every one which It spends.
THE American colonies spilled costly
blood. but II those lives had not been
given, the present territory OF the United
States would be settled by twenty in
stead OF a hundred millions. II the Ger
man States had not sacrificed hundreds
OF thousands of lives. Germany would
never have reached that strength and
wealth and through them that Industrial
and scientific, technical and hygienic
progress which meant life and happiness
for millions on millions who would have
died In childhood.
THE imagination Of mankind is too
easily impressed by sudden dramatic
events, Compared with the slow working
OF destructive forces. II the Titanic sinks,
the globe Is aghast. but II a ten times
larger number OF human beings are de-
stroyed by avoidable accidents through
In the structure Of the rail-
ways. It is hardly noticed.
IF a State in undisturbed peace re-
mains on a low level Of hygiene and
science, has poor labor legislation. does
not protect the women and children. has
4 high criminal record. INDUCES in al
,ohol, Is scourged by vensreaI diseases
and infected by the small family habit |
he loss and the manning of human be-
ngs Is a hundred times larger than that |
which may come on the battlefield.
"a victorious war may bring to such |
! nation a complete regeneration; the |
moral energies awake: vice is repressed; |
ife Is protected; education flourishes; |
lygiene spreads; science rebuilds the |
and; prosperity grows; temperance and |
prevail: family life can
.xpand in the new abundance.
For every boy who dies. a score Of |
men and women In the next generation |
will find the means Of health and hap
illness. Nobody dies at Thermopylae |
Without giving life to hundreds.