The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-27
WAR Is CHIEF PART
OF 1HESTATE'S DUTY"
Observation Of Treaties Is Reg
ulatcd by Interests. Says
Prof. Lasson.
CONGRESS rs JUSTIFIABLE
sp.cia, co,-,.po.de~ee 10 Tn. srS

SpFCtft contemporaries 20 hhn w.
Pans. Dec. SIN connection with
resent discussion as 20 The authenticity
o., letter. written by Prot Adolf Lssson
o. Berlin 10 4 Dutch correspondent, BY
way o, outlining the philosophical case
~ German imperial nilitari.m. L'
Tenn. d'smi.se- the doubt OF those who
n.ld that the sentiments expressed IN tho
'e.,-rs were TOO prepo.t-rously tnhumsn
,.r even q Pru..lan professor by publish
.ns a llttl- summary OF an early work
% Herr Lasson. pas Ku,tur'deal und
der Kr!es." published originally in 1858
and ~evlsrd "a a sort o, handbook for use
in i0struct.ng the youth IN secondary
schools m the true principles Of German
patriotism.
IN fairness 10 Prot Lsason Il should
Ne said that his remarks in both In
Stances were IN philosophical form and
rot Intended FOR newspaper propaganda
.us be,oro the great public. lust as there
.s much IN all systematic philosophy
which would shock unin,tiated person.
4 Il w.ro somewhat crudely translated
20 item IN popular terms or with a
popular Issue tied Immediately 20 II, so
fitfF 4t~Nt.i y 'lA44ifhlN 'hpAbt' 'N''t'
s,hoan sentiments can very easily hs
shown in the color or monstrou. inhuman-
l;y. once they are sufficiently boiled down
into commonplace references from con
creto cases IN life
Familiar n. Il is with Nietz.chean doc
trine and lacking in cant as Il tho French
mind. France stu resi-ts tho German
nsttooted method OF putting great his
torlcai facts and still loves a certain
sentimental heroic glamour over rs large
historical conceptions Il would offend
a Frenchnian still 10 speak OF tho French
Revolution a. a systematic assassination
OF the hereditary aristocracy rather than
as q deliveranoe OF man from the bonds
OF monarchy. &C. whereas the German
professor rather assumes that his public
IL sufficiently familiar with tho amount
OF color which terms must contain to
be Indifferent as TO which you call -
90 long as you are talking about the
same facts
The writer OF the Temps review OF Herr
Lss.ons little handbook states natiy AZ
the opening Of his article that these doc
trines are incomprchensihle to Latin in
t-lligences which. IN view OF the very
derahle influence OF Nietzsche in
France Il rather counting contradiction.
erie ndshtp . Matter OF Hsrsrd."
The state, writes Prof. Lasson, cannot
admit OF tribunal above Itself In rank,
from which Il must accept decisions, with
out thereby disappearing as state by
his very action the essence OF the State
being sovereignty Between States exists
war as the characteristic relation produced
ny tho fact Of there being many states.
Conflict |. the essence and the rule ~
relations between States. A condition OF
/ friendship between real states is mater
, ~ hazard and ~ exceptional circumstance
in history,
So long az there are men OF free in
s,urte only restraint by force or fear can
he relied upon 10 assure the execution ot
,a1s In the cases OF struggles hctweeu
advcrsarics on tho question or execution
~ avs ON" side loses through lack ot
. force Of res stance, and the new condition
of affairs which results from the assertion
Of the superior force has the sam" in
t-grity that the previous condition had,
even II II hc different,
81. wecn states there IL nothing that can
he called law, law being nothing hut a
force recognized az Of infinite superiority
20 other forces the very recognition by
tho state Of law between II and an
other state would amount TO IN infringe
ncut upon the sovereignty ~ the state
and thus feehleness ~ the State as such
The measure OF a small states rights lice
I'm its force OF resistance against larger
states. between States strength counts
as fright" 1t Is quite reasonable that
'h"r~ should he wars so long as states
cNist. one should not expect pity no,
kindness from a state, though prudence
docs govern the cruelty OF states 80 that
one state does not damage another unless
, a considerable and permanent benefit 70
the dominating State results