The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-10-18
SEES GERMAN BLUNDER
IN BIG STICK POLICY

To THE EDITOR or THE SuN--Sir. Read
ing the deeply interesting expression OF
views on the subject of Germany, the
Kaiser and other similar matters in the
leading magazines and newspapers the inn
preston conveyed to q sympaihser with
the allies Is that the German view. even
though expressed by the most competent
opponents. Is lacking In perfect sincerity.
II falls short OF tho truth because of
incomplete analysis
one eminent professor treats France as
being among the formidable array of OBJ
stac,es against the peaceful expansion
of Germany because France, unwilling
TO forget her national humiliation" kept
preparing necessarily for the day OF re-
venge. Everybody knows that II France.
which though preparing necessarily was
always accused OF never being ready.
had officially set aside her revengefui
aims as to the lost provinces this would
not have saved her from being gradu
ally pushed by Germany from her posi-
tion as great Power into one Of sub
serviency to the Wilhelmstrasse.
France at last could not follow any
foreign policy without German inter
ference, yet to avoid war France actually
parted with colonial French territory.
France stood as much of this as could
be borne by u self-respectng nation.
Alsaco and Lorraine were only secondary
causes. sincere analysis can only dis,
cover in the end that had thrrc been
no German threats such as at Agadir.
no German dictaton rs to the personnel
Of the French Ministry. no land grab
blngs such as OF French Congo, France
to-day would have been totally unpre-
pared 10 fight Germany either on sea or
land.
II the Germans had had more acumen
they would have hidden the big stick until
France had been dlsarmed by confidence.
Now the French are armed to the teeth
and are quite living up to their military
reputation.
This blunder on the part OF Germany
Is characteristic. The Germany we see
Is strong. panstakinS and intelligent but
200 often laundering when it comes 10
diplomacy. The disciples Of Machiavelli.
as some German statesmen seem To be- Il
was certainly an egr,glous blunder tu
threaten France. Poor diplomacy will
probably be the ruin Of Germany.
Again IN" German publicisis claim too
much. II Is conceded that I'm most prac-
teal matters the Germans hold first place
IN applied science for example They Ger
HiulN squeeze the Juice, 50 to speak. out
OF science and Intricate with IL all things
In their reach. hut they lack genius.
They are not inventive The creative
mind Is not frequent in Germany, I'm the
fine arts they are not to be named with
Goethe. who has been dead long timei
nor TN basic discoveries in science The
names OF Pascal Pasteur. Lamarck
Lavoisier are those Of real founders-not
adapters or copyers
German military science is deeply in
dcbted TO Napoleon. Even in music ~
late years tn" French have left them
far behind, As to composers. II is how
ever. understood and agreed 10 by many
tHtt the Germans are a wonderful race
which has don" wonderful things That
is conceded with pleasure and much ad-
mlraiioa by all who admire practical re-
suits and waive aside for The occasion all
neral questions
There are many persons. however who
Keep measuring everything with a moral
unit OF m asurement To these persons
Germany does not measure up 10 the
standard To these persons the questions
Keep cropping up. why so many Ger
mans willing and able to abase themselves
10 the level Of the spy" How can a
General in tho moment Of failure when
his services are most needed and his honor
IS most M stake desert his military chill.
dren and the field he led them to by
committing suicide?' and the merchants
who leave their families and creditors In
the lurch after shooting themselves An
this argues inferior moral fibre. Suicide
and spying are common in Germany
In one OF the latest magazines tho char
acter Of the German Kaiser Is summed up
as follows; Richard Wagner's ParsIfal
and the N!etzschean Superman seem COM
bined in him. and again. He urges
his own sons to labor necessarily to make
themselves true personalities. taking as
their guide Jesus. the most personal OF
all personalities
The Kaiser. it IL said. is thorougnlv
representative OF modern Germany Il is
certainly strange combination this OF
larsiial and Supetman, OF a follower ~
christ and follower Of Antichrist To
tuSs In one nature Christ and Antichrist
is a chtt dnuVre OF scientific barbarism
In Germany as In all countries. philos-
ophers and philosophical poets Ike
Nietzsche, come and go. Their influence
wakes and wanes. but always something
remains more or less permanently What
Nietzsche left was the contempt OF pity.
This is what has alarmed the world. We
believe In Parsfal but not in the SUPER
man. T. n /,
New YORK, October 10