The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-01

and felt called upon 10 do her fun share
with enthusiasm.
But how suddenly has all this altered;
how violently has opinion turned in
the opposite direction; how sorely have
jealousy and hatred withdrawn their
friendship Well we know that some
few, some smaller nations, still cherish
friendly feeling for US and watch our
fight with sympathy; We know too that
in other lands where opinion rises and
falls some brave men have entered the
lists for us and desire just judgment
for our efforts, but It Is undeniable that
as a whole public opinion is against us.
Those who praised us Just now all at
once blame us most unfairly. We are
not even safe from the worst calumnies.
How then. has this come about? What
can we do against It?
There can be no doubt that an in
imical press has had much to do with
It. The nations have been entangled in
web OF falsehoods from which the
strongest can hardly break loose. II
person reads daily the most glaring ac-
counts of the cruelty and weakness OF
the enemy; II the widest fancies are
set down as facts, and every bit of news
is twisted and turned from the truth;
II
and the worst possible construction is
put upon every deed, no matter how In
nocent, It is not hard to understand how
hatred and distrust are stirred up. so
| that the reader believes almost any
thing.
Really all OF this could not elavo hap
pened IL the circle that knew Germany
most intimately and valued her most
! highly had brought 20 bear their con-
viction upon all their people. The OK
| periences OF the war provo unfortu-
! nately that these were only a thin layer,
and that behind all quiet reflection and
| fair estimate selfish interests and wild
passions lay unsubdued and have now
, broken forth in all their brutality. Here
! Is another proof that mankind IL not
ruled by his conscience and Judgment
/. but by passion.
); Everything is distorted by passion; II
! is impossible 10 gain the correct per-
speCtive, or for us when so affected 10
put ourselves in the other mans place
even to grasp the position OF our OPP
ponent. We condemn before we hear,
For these reasons we Germans need not
he surprised at the wild judgments
passed upon us and the utter condemna-
ton that greets us on many sides.
Thus inimical foreigners call this war
which has been forced upon us war OF
conquest we are held up as people
dominated by militarism which lusts
for conquest. Some are fond OF con-
trastnG the ancient Germany, that
Germany of philosophy and art. with
this new Germany of blood and iron
Just as II Germany had fallen into two
sections. and as II German intelligence
had been dominated by the war power
How then does It happen that in this
war the learned and artistic are to be
found in the very front ranks, fighting
with all their might for their ideals!
How ls It that all the German parties
have combined, even Social Democrats
who certainly could never have been ac-
cused Of cherishing any love for mill
tarism? Military strength does not In
any way indicate militarism. The for
mer Is absolutely necessary for Ger
many, for the perpetuation OF the
national independence compels it; any
one can understand this who glances
at the map of Europe
The reproach that this 10 a war fol