New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-09-29
How German Culture Explains the
Errancy of UntutOred Ameri-
can Oplr ION.


When James Russell Lowell wrote his essay on
a Certain Condescension in Foreigners he had in
mind chiefly the Engshman of the period before
the Civil War. who took a hlalevolont delight in
confronting us with what he considered our failure
up 10 that point to attain to the upper levels Of
European culture Mr.. Lowell lived TO see that
attitude Of superciiousncss altered so far as Eng
land is concerned Great Britain no longer patron.
lies us, whether It be in sport learning, business
or politics But If Lowell were alive to-day he
would undoubtedly he tempted to rewrite his fine
spirited protest to fit the extraordinary condeScen
sion now showered upon the American public by
highly superior German critics.
In an article in the New Yorker Stats Zetung"
Of last Sunday Professor Ernst Richard undertook
10 explain the auti-German feeling prevalent in
fhis. country To him the reasons were simple
enough. He pointed out that in our poor way we
ired to master the intricate problem Of European
politics but our intelligence failed us. We there
fore took the easiest way out, which to accept
the opinions sent over to us readymade from Paris
end London Even Professor Munsterberg couldn't
have diagnosed our national feoble-mindedness any
more neatly.
Superfciality is our great failing according to
Professor Richard lie says in one passage:
And herewith we come on a moral defect, which
not only supports US in demonstration, but con-
stutes great peril for the future Of the American
nation ] mean the fear OF serious, persistent IN
telectual labor the fear OF all that which yes US
mental inconvenience, which Is called tedious pc
cause it is not diverng and specifically entertain
ing, but which is and absolutely essential to
comprehensive view of the world 1t IS exactly TINS
capacity for work. and this habit which IS one OF
the most weighy causes Of German success IN peace
and war, and especially OF German success IN !he
present 1t is just here that an understanding
is vOuchsafed US of the comprehension OF those
American journalists and of others, even educated
citizens, who repel with sincere indignation the re-
breaches cast by magnity aga nst the Germans.
There are people who drive to desperation I6e-
cause they respectable people, whose good opln-
ion and good will are important to US, since they
constitute the soundest part Of the natonl-who
irive us to desperation because they MAINTAIN mat
they respect and love German culture put IN ms
take the German side because OF the preach
Of neutrality, because Of autocracy and because OIL
In cose of war between Germany and Russia they
would be enthusiastically tor Germany. But now
they are for England and France, because the latter
countr represent the modern democracy ana stshd
in the opinion of these people as high above Ger
many as Germany stands above Russia That the po-
Htical development of Germany has taken quite an
a Thor
that in the recognition OF the true ENDS Oh STATE IN
ordination Of free men in a political and al com
T ny ,ood Of all germany is ahead Of all other
lgnds-of that they have no Understanding aho oher
auence them to concern themselves seriously with
German conditions and German history.
Again Professor Richard thus Eliminates our
.a,,1,.-.. - .tir,, oDd understand.
80. a.so,+. tbor.b+,ass imitation
Of English models and an Intentionally cultivated
German sentiment It is this supericality-I repeat
t~R . MAKES - mi iIst to fnd Oroper under
standing Of the relations between Austria
to bring on this war of Cermanys apparently ag-
sIesSave J s ~ tSo ;rVason Of BeIu;nyn.
Poor American incompetents. Not able to pene-
trate into the mysteries Of diplomacy and states
a Dol md 0roTo pply md