New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-12-30

professor Wir. o. the Uuirersi,y Of
Wusr- bu0 ig one o. me bCst tnOtCn scion
fists U Europe ne received the Nobsl Price
10 Phuicg ~ 1911 and delivered n series Of
lectures az Columbia University H 1879
To Mr.. John Burroughs.
A reply 70 his letter 20 the editor OF
The Tribune, in which he styles him
self an old admirer OF the Germans,
but finds their warfare collective muir
der, pillage and arson:
The newspaper clipping you sent me
contains nothing that is new 20 me.
Il repeats what the English and French
papers have been continually publish
ing against US since the beginning OF
the war We cannot be surprised that
the American press, which depends Tor
its European news entirely on Eng
land, takes the same tone, nor can we
be astonished that the general feeling
in America, which is Influenced largely
by the press, is anti-German. As to
whether the majority Of Americans
and YOU will pardon me II ! include
you) can form an independent Judg-
ment OF the complicated European rela-
lions and the causes Of the present
war from their own political and his
torical knowledge, you will probably
doubt Yourself after mature considera-
ton. II is far from my intention 20
explain the German view Of the origin
Of the war. consider that futile.
But would ask you whether you do
not feel Yourself the contradictions in
YOUR article at which one must be sur
prised. You say that the American
like the German the best Of all Con-
tinental peoples, except possibly the
Scandinavians, and owe more to them
both in material civilization and in
their aesthetic and intellectual culture.
You continue the Germans are a sober,
reliable. unassumng, home loving, hui
man people, and afterward you speak
about the war-drunk Kaiser and ma
ton Of spoilers and robbers. Do you
think il probable that a people pos
sessing the qualities you praise can
change its nature in one week? That
the German people could jump sudden
liz from the ideas Of Goethe, Schiller,
Hegel, into those Of Nietzsche and
Bernhard? | will mention only in
passing that Nietzsche professed him
self an adversary of the Germans, and
| know scarcely a German who ever
read Bernhard.
wish to quote a short part OF a
speech OF the blood and iron" Bis
marck. whom we regard indeed as the
national hero. Speech Of February s,
1889:
81 am therefore not for any offensive
war, and If the war could come about
only by our attack fire must be put
on By somebody IL war begins-we
will not do il. Neither the conscious
ness Of our strength, as / have just
told you, nor the confidence in our
alliances shall restrain US from con-
tinuing our present efforts 70 preserve
peace with our used zeal. We shall
not allow ourselves 20 be led b. any
IN temper nor guided By any antipathy.
II is- doubtless that the threatenings
and afronts. the provocations directed
against us, have stirred up in our
hearts deep and iustifable irritation,
and this is difficult for the German,
for he ia less inclined 90 n national
hatred than any other nation; but we
are trying 20 appease them, and we
wish 70 have peace az all times with
our neighbors, first Of all with Rus
STA. II say first Of all with Russia,
it is because I think that France can
not give us securities OF success in
our efforts, though will not say that
IL does not help. We will never seek
quarrels. We will never attack France.
he many little differences provoked by
the inclination OF our neighbors 70 spy
and to bride, we have always brought