Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-11-06
Political Theory And The War

ear attuned to~his peeuliarities, and in
time the very defects Of his elOcution
seemed to lend emphasis to what he
said.
The Sin Of Weakness.
| well remember the yigor with
, which in one OF his lectures he said:
If there is any objectionable sin in
politics, sin against the holy ghost
of politics, 1t Is weakness" This SEN
ltence, which was incorporated in his
Iposthumous book on politics, has been
quoted with approval by General Won
Bernhard, and is perhaps as good a
summary as could be given in a single
sentence of his leading thought. AS
/ take down my old note book of 81
years ago and turn over its pages, I
seem to see his flashing eyes and hear
his raucous voice. The purpose Of
the state" so reads my notes, lis
power. and nothing can be more moral
than this purpose. The statesman Is
often in position to choose between
two evils In order to maintain this
highest good, but the diplomatist lies
tif he does it, for the advantage of
the state, while the merchant lies for
his ewn advantage The impulse of q
youthful state to destroy an old and
decaying state Is higher than all max
/ inns of positive law. The statesman
who acts unwisely is immoral" When
a state has the choice between the
moral and the immoral 1t should
choose the moral. for; good faith is In
politics real power, but 1t Is often
possible to obtain a moral purpose on
ly by immoral means, although not
every moral purpose sanctifies immor-
al means" These brief sentences do
not claim to be the exact words of
Treitschke, but they certainly repre-
sent the impression which his words
made upon me, and believe that they
do not do him injustice. The vigor
Of his utterances often called forth
strong opposition among the students,
which they expressed, according to
the German custom, by rubbing the
floor with the soles. of their shoes.
Although Treitschke was stone deaf. it
seemed as II he must have felt these
demonstrations IN some way. possibly
through the vibrations of the floor.
for whenever one occurred. he would
hit back with some oracular utterance
like sledgehammer,s calculated to
crush, If not to convince. his critics.
Treitschke's Teachings 81 T. - fsss.
Treitschke's theory Of political NOR
als-neverGonpi me, ana 1 do not
think that it appeals to many people
IN the United States &c fif England,
but in Justice to him itesheuId be said
that many Of his expressions were the.
result of scorn of political senti-
mentality, against which another of
my earlier teachers, Professor Sum.
ner. though representing a very diff
ferent school OF thought, used to In
weigh with no less yigor and with as
much Justice: And agree with both
Of them In thinking that the condi-
ticn of all intellectual progress, wheth-
er in politics or in economies, lies In
first ascertailing the facts and then
facing them unf1inchingIy. Many Of
the facts of history are very disagree
able. They are particularly so when
they do not fit In with our ewn con-
ception of the wav in which Provi-
dence ought, and doubtless intended,
to govern the world But though an
enemy of sentimentality Treitschke
was not free from emotions. He was
a man OF controversial rather than of
scientific temperament He was
natural fighter. His colors were al
wavs the black and white Of Prussia,
and they were never concealed. Prus-
sian history. Prussian kings, Prdssian
efficiency aroused his intense admira-
ton. while upon England he was al.
ways ready to pour out the walls of
his wrath and scorn - A
The winter during which / heard
Treitschke lecture was the winter of
the war. between Russia and Turkey,
which ended with the conference OF
Berlin in the spring of 1878. Among
those who attended the course was a
colonel of infantry. who happened to
sit next to me. and with whom fire.
quently conversed. while we were
waiting for Treitschke to appear. For
he always observed double academic
quarter. in other words, n lecture an
Inunced for 10 O'clock began about
1880, and then ran over to 11:15.
There was some talk of a possible
that time. and the morning paper con-
tanned an account OF the debates IN
Parliament on this subject My neigh
Dor said to me, as ] recall his re-
marks: These English are queer
people They always have to do such
"a lot Of talking about things. In Ger
many. IL war is declared todav. the
order is at once issued. and hv t0ulor-
row the whole army is mcbilized."
Fundamental Differences.
This casual remark brought out
fundamental difference between the
political ideals cf Germany end these
Of Englsnd and the United States.
The result of having country gov
erned by ponnlarlv elected -enreean-
tatives and officers Is that they feel
a responsibility to these who chose
them which can only be satisfied by
Inubiie discussion. This is rftepk time
consuming. and much of Rhat IS said
seems foolish to a man of action. Nor
Is II always edifving. even tn those
who believe that it makes IN the lone
rlin fer. moderation and ft,ofioo and