The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-01
Points Out the Great
Question Over Which
Germany and England
Are at War

OF politics is war, in which no moral
standard IL recognized, and II Ia Just as
fair to conclude that dum-dum bullets
are permissible. that private property
may he taken where the war II being
waged, that open cities may be burned
and that non combatants, as Archibald
Hurd has lately announced, may be
slain. so as to inflict as great loss as
possible upon the enemy and 70 over
come them by horror.
The great decision which the fighting
nations now face IL really this: Shall
morals have any part in politics. or are
morals an aniquated idea, which has
nothing 20 do with the life OF the
future? Especially In politics must
morals be ruled out as an altogether
useless pretence at culture? 1, is about
this very question that the two great
cultural nations, Germany and Eng
land are at war.
The distinction Ia twofold: tho ethical
question, whether politics without
morals advances culture, and, second,
whether carrying on war and politics
without morals will aid In the desired
victory; in other words. is II practical?
The Germans put aside both ideas at
once, Iilb tIUlCdl lutdl dDONe
to German science. religion and world
conception; although Il cannot be de-
MED that we are sometimes compelled,
Just for cultural ends, 10 overcome saw
age nations by force in order TO raise
them out OF uncultured savagery 10 the
plane OF culture But what, then is 10
be said about the struggle for the lead
ership OF civilized man7
=. a. hat I~,,er Ia ta x,,~%u
gether wrong when she considers her
self the sole nation called 10 the leader
ship Of mankind, and sets herself forth
as such, and even II she cannot and
will not recognize the fact that we Ger
mans also consider ourselves called
thereto? We Germans found our be-
lief upon this, that by culture we I'M
derstand language. science. art, philoso-
ply. religion and world conception, in
which we surpass the English, or al
! least are their equals. while It Is In
cumbent upon us TO admit that possibly
! twenty years ago the English, at least
partially, were our superiors IN CIV
ilization, by which 10 meant commerce
| industry. agriculture. comfort. habits
morals and languages Language being
the boundary between civilization ant
| o. buN thVy NV phh super iOi' IN
longer.
In this list unfortunsteiy politics I,
! not included. while Il 70 doubtful
whether II should be included unde,
civilization or whether II should be helt
as something unique. something IN ant
for itself, It might almost be said as Z
thing aprt, a contradiction OF all civ
ilization and culture.
II this be the position then We mus
admit that the English are. always hav
been and always will be our superiors
Just at this time, this wonderful pc
Rod when all in which we believed o
craftsmanship. political morality an
good faith melts away like snow in tn
south wind. this gigantic. intangibl
monster OF English politics Is trying Il
crush us The impression can be mad
palmer by n historical reference. Eng
land always energies from the most diff
ficult situations reinvigorated for com
mercial conquest. She always knew
how to deal the cards SO that the chic
sufferer IN any great war was not Eng
land, but other nations. Here or thcr
she so grouped the allies and the foe
that at tho critical moment she steppe
in and gathered the fruits of victory.
How did 1t harm her If she sent he
| feet or army sometimes one way, some