The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-11-10
THE GERMAN "GEIST."
vigor and Force, "Barbarism," You
Like, Exchanging.

Like, Exchanging.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SUN-Str: In
the welter OF controversy about the pres
ent war there Is one point of view which
wish TO put as clearly az possible before
tho American mind. Germany Is hghting
for her existence: not only for her political
unity and her right TO grow, but for that
most vital part OF her national self, her
Ideal of life, threatened on every side by
the march OF change in the world
The Germanic people have always been
less susceptible than others to outside
influences. Their growth and development
have been from within, along the lines
best suited TO their natural qualities and
powers. In the history of every nation
the period of horescence comes when the
"Geist" of that special people meets con-
dtions which free and stimulate II TO
rapid growth This Is followed Inevitably,
as the relations between the outward and
Inward life change. by decline. The Ger
manic people alone among the Europeans
have been able. consciously in few great
minds or unconsciously In the soul OF the
folk, to preserve those conditions political
and social under which the destructive
German qualities had the most scope for
development.
Politically We Germans are still in the
eighteenth century. for a strong. absolute
ruler supported by an influential land
owning upper class In our standard or
government.
Socially we are feudal, not because the
system is imposed upon us from above.
but because II fills the desire OF the people
who are content to have a dominating
class above them. II they can have DOM
mated one below.
In domestic life we have stuck to the
twelfth century our attitude toward wom-
an perhaps belongs earlier. We consider
her an inferior being because she lacks
the qualities which we value most, force
and tenacity OF purpose, but we greatly
respect In her that function for which
she In best fitted, a function which she
has been allowed to neglect under what
are called the higher civilizations, much
TO the detriment of France at this mo-
ment The Germans word for women IN
mass Is not n polite one. When he wishes
to speak OF her with respect he calls her
wife" and by choice and training through
the centuries he has developed an al
most perfect type. n woman who. whether
high or low In class. will keep house for
her man and bear him children with
single hearted devotion. Our government
and judiciary do not have to cope with
n Mrs. Pankhurst or n Nine. Cailaux.
To us war is still war not IA game
played by nice international rules, but fire
and sword. battle and murder and rape.
The country that our armies fight over
viii Ubl utlN US dEdln, anu VIC rudli'
hope. in few months prove TO the world
the effectiveness OF our system.
To this standard Of national life we
have consistently kept. Neither the up
heaval Of the French revolution. the
struggle OF as nor the modern propa-
ganda for humanitarianism and individ-
ualism has really touched the inner life
OF our people. But as the restless cropping
world around us has changed with each
decade tho gulf has widened between us
and them and the inevitable friction and
clash have come, sharpened by much con-
temptuous criticism from the possessors
OF progress. How much this attitude of
her nc'ghbors has fostered the war spirit
in Germany Is hard to reckon. II has
certainly been factor.
You call US 'barbarians." but Is that
a term OF reproach? You say that a
German victory would put the worlds
progress back for century. but is that
loss? Is Il not we'll that the force and
vigor Of the barbarian should sweep away
the weakness and overrefnement OF mod
crn civilization. the nice distinctions and
fine shades that your authors love and
your moralls,s pirate OF? Has not the
wave Of Standardization and regard for
human life gone too far, and Is II not
time that the barbarian should rouse
again and remind the world that the old
rule Let that one take who has the
power. and that one keep who can" Is the
law OF life'
/ beg tho American people TO consider
this side OF tho great case now before us,
and If my own country wins I beg that
they frankly drop all pose OF overclv-
ilization and be frankly what they are.
barbarians, with tho force and vigor.
the simple code and splendid belief in
themselves tina; the world has so greatly
lost and so greatly needs
MAxGMUIEN FURsTES.
NEW YORK. November s.