The sun., 1914-08-18
AMERICANS AND GERMANS.
Analysis OF sentiment by an American
Graduate Of a German University.

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN--Sir: As
one who has lived over a dozen years
In many parts of Germany, north and
south. In many capacities which have
brought me into intimate relations with
all classes, the landowners the officers,
the journalists. the artists with brush,
quadrant and buskin, and the man in the
street" would like to place on record
the following facts:
Most of our German citizens complain
that the world is jealous of German
progress. have never noticed such
jealousy either In England or the United
States. On the other hand one OF the
most generally acknowledged weaknesses
of the German character Ia envy, and I
found II cropping out on countless occs-
sions during my several residences in
the fatherland. This envy was directed
particularly against England, and Sec
ondly against America less AGAINST us.
however. because the great mass OF Ger
mans have always despised America and
all her works
Nobody knows better than Professor
Muensterbers how ignorant the German
public is in regard to the American char
acter. which in It's eyes is a combination
OF sordid money love, ignoble vulgarity
OF manner and dress and the lowest OF
Ideals Professor Muensterberg himself
after he had been at Cambridge for a
few years clearly saw this great injus-
tice, and we are all very deeply indebted
TO him for his Illuminating book about
us, written for the German people in
which he opened their eyes as much as
the eyes OF 80 preJudiced a folk could be
opened to the real American character
with its high ideality, It's sense OF justice
and Its broad charity. His efforts were
vain, however, for the Germans do not
like us and have never liked us 1t was
long altar I ha haH IN nIa
American Nice-Consul-General In Berlin.
OF helping Professor Muensterberg through
that city on his Journey to Harvard that
all Americans resident in Germany had
splendid chance of seeing just where their
country stood IN the affections OF the
German people, for the war with Spain
broke out AZ the time took pains TO
read the press of the world. including that
OF Spain. and have no hesitation In de-
clarlns that the press of no nation, in
cluding that Of Spain itself excelled that
OF Germany, with the exception of the
Frdnkfurtcr Zettunp and few other radl-
cal papers. in bitter sarcasm, rank injus-
tlce and hateful yituptration OF all things
Yankee Even the comic press forgot cap
and bells and INDUCED In nts OF very
uncomic rage against us. The Riddderd-
ddtseh published a perfectly serious poem
In which II hoped that even IL with
brutal might Uncle Sam should defeat
Spain. at least the knghtly hldslgo would
make II as sour for the vulgar beast as
possible.
This press perfectly represented the
German people. heard officers and
tradesmen, women and children. express
disgust at America and love for romantic
Spain Even German experts rather be-
lieved that We might not prevail against
this feeble nation, so blinded by prejudice
was the whole Teutonlc natl, Nor was
Willoughhy Miller. one OF the mlldest
hammered men in tho world as he was
one OF the most distinguished in his feld
who was then professor in the Unlver-
sity of Berlin, seriously spoke Of leaving
the country on account of not being able
10 endure the bitterness and injustice OF
his neighbors and fellow professors 7
fancy that Profes ssor Muensterberg has in
the present moment no such occasion TO
complain OF his Harvard colleagues, On
many occasions parties of Americans, per-
fectly quiet In their deneanor. were jeered
in respectable restaurants as well as in
tho street
Now such men as Professor Miller and
myself. graduates OF German universities
and In full sympathy with all that was
good In Germany. so far from being
prejudiced against the fstherland. went
thther filled with romaptic regard for
everything that II represented. The sweet
mysticism OF the German lyrlcists tingl.d
In our veins. German music sang in our
hearts. German scholarship Allied our
brains with woclderment But human
nature Is the same in the scholar as in
the peasant or the merchant, and ] ven-
ture TO suggest that II countless Amerl-
cans now feel sympasy for their cousins
of Britain rather than with the Germans
the reason Hes in the arrogant and ig-
norantly contemptuous treatment OF us
by the latter,
Nevertheless II cannot be doubted that
this feeling OF bias Is directed against the
governments Of the Germans and the
Austrians and by no means against these
peoples themselves, for whom the mass
OF Americans have nothing but good will
May they come out of this conflict many
steps nearer TO true democracies, ana the
same may he hoped OF Russia, which,
strange to say. most Americans have
little in mind when they analyze their
feelings in regard TO this war
EDWARD BRECK.
ANNAPOLIS ROYAL, y. s., August Il.