The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-09-05
GERNANY'S REAL STRENGTH.
Not In Staggering MIlitsrism. but In the
Nations sound Organic Growth.

To THE EDITOR or THE SuN--Sr. The
! forecasts which are made by individuals
ana newspapers are very interesting and
III many cases contain sound and whole
some thought. There is danger. however.
that the ease with which prophecies can
be made may discourage historical eau
ton and lead us into many false byways.
While 1t may be doubted IL history has
an ultimate moral goal, IL Is safe to as
sert that 1t Is made up OF seduential
events In which cause and consequence
follow as inexorably as In the physical
world. The complex OF causes which are
iiIuinined by the present war must there
fore be followed by purely natural re-
suits rather than by the programme OF
people with prejudices or n fixed phi
losophy OF life
Let us not deceive ourselves Neither
democracy nor monarchy nor mlltarism
nor drili masters are on trial The hys-
terical attack on German militarism Is
quixotic, for mil1tarism, In varying de-
grees. is a universal phenomenon and the
outcome OF clearly defined economic and
political forces OF the nineteenth century
Inc Germans do not sardonically build
ornaments in order TO make n laughing
stock OF little peace advocates. Mobiliza-
ton OF material resources, including
soldiery. II the only road In our present
epoch which leads TO national integrity
and national expansion. And Germany,
by her sustained development In every
apartment OF human endcavor. has earned
the right to legitimate expansion
whereby she will have more room for her
growing population and n perfect defen.
sive armament against the hostl.tles
which are part and parcel OF European
politics, as clashlng interests are part and
parcel of the life Of individuals living In
a pcaceable society Why indlct Germany
for militarism which Ia very efficient
because the mllitarsm OF other nations
is not so efficient? Russia crushing Fin
land. England dumdummng the Beers,
France subJugating alien peoples indl-
cate that the desire for expansion through
mil'taristic measures is not an exclusively
German talent.
Let us realize that the causes Of this
war are deeper rooted than the Interests
OF civilization" a highly abstract concept
OF utility only in sChoorroom The
primary cause Of the war IL the will TO
live OF the smaller States against the will
TO power Of the larger States. The Bal
kan States. with aspirations for inde-
pendence. fighting for their sef-preserva-
ton represent strange spectacle In the
European drama They are fighting
against an unavoidable fate for they
know that they are destined for absorp-
ton by the greater Powers. They know
that they represent the largest commercial
prize in Europe. for they command or
ahut or converge on the Adriatic and the
Dardanclles Which Power shall absorb
them, Teuton or Slav? Ii IL that question
which has subconsciously been the mo-
tive for the m!litarlstic policies OF Rus.
ria, Austria and Germany Servian as
s"rtiveuess released all that was dormant
In the situation. II is little Servia whIcn
has been the means once and for all OF
posing the question: Shall there be- "A
Pan-Slav hegemony with Russia spread
ing It's paunch over Europe or shall
German Austrian interests control the
little Balkans?
II seems clear TO me that the logic
OF events ana the forces which make for
national greatness favor n German VIC
tory. The Teuton IL the healthiest organ
ism among modern States Recognizing
fully the abnormal accretons which grow
onto every successful State Mt certain
stag OF It's development, the German ma.
tion H. still sound ~ the core and potential
IN manifold directions. German victory
must he predicated not on any mystical
belief In its destiny or on "A staggering
ialth In its ~llitary efficiency, but on the
fact that the evolution OF modern Europe
inevitably points TO German domination
Every century receives It's form from the
genius Of a powerful race. and 1t may well
be that Germany shall mould the history
OF the twentieth century.
! am >uly aware Of the practical
obstacles which Germany must overcome
before IL can emerge the victor. But his
tory gives ample Instances OF the hidden
stores OF reserve energy possessed by ma
tons which fight for their existence.
Il IL To be regretted that history pays
little heed 10 the myths OF historians
Every conflict between nations suggests
an ideal and moral Interpretation by
these worthy souls History would be m
extremely dangerous science IL II was
based on reality Perhaps rfe ignores the
pious wishes Of those good people who be
l.cvo In order and progress. With fine
dramatic sense the historical process
mikes Burgias and Popes Napoleons and
Christs, socialism and mlltarism, the
eternal veritics and the devil. Perhaps a
German victory is In harmony with the
"scherzo' Of life ABRAHAM SOLOMON.
NEW York. September 4.