The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-12-06
!, PROF. ruEoDOR ELsENHANs.

~ URING the forty -four years Of
peace which were granted TO
~ progressing Germany much has
been said about war II was
Amos, always presented to US as the
awful destroyer the mightiest of ter
achievements brought about by much
painful labor. The fantastic picture Of
var exhibited to us was sometimes the
frshtfu presentmeut OF death and de-
,.ruction, ~ in the apocllypt!c horse
man 81 Aihrecht Duerer or Leichen-
fed. or even Franz Stuck. or the
Napo'eor.c superman "a Max Klinger
rpAli2e-S him.
W have discussed over and over
a.din how best 70 keep this awful
c'tastr~-he far away from our own
country and from Europe, and there is
NO callmny Of our enemies So laughai3le
10 any ca who understands our people
as the statement that Germany began
The war for the purpose Of conquest.
We have made many sacrifices, per-
haps too many. 10 prevent Il. and the
.iea Of everlasting peace has found an
echc In many hearts. even amid the
preparation OF arms.
Ard now that war stands before us "a
an awful fact. now that the torch has
been thrown out To spread flames where
!. may. now that the loyal. peace loving
German nation has to face one NIGH
Toe after the other. We are experiencing
something remarkable. We feel deeply
re terrible facts Of the times, we
tpurn the sacrifice Of young lives wrirh
the war has made necessary, but all
weeping and sorrow. all regret Is swat
loved Up by the mighty stream of a
new national Hfe which has rushed
forth over orr German fatheriard.
Even II ;'le impossible were "a D,
made possible, even II We could tura
.a' Wheel ~ time backward. no rea'
German would dare "a wish fo- the re-
turr of tho duh. uneven:ful disagree
aNic times The new impulses are toe
valuable. 100 deep reaching aud TOO ful'
~ promte FOR an inner change and mp
II Of tho German people. No cor
sr'eEtious and well meaning work toI
spircd minds. no self-sacritioing activity
Of The friends Of the people could have
produced that which the war ha:
brought about or Is about 10 arou q
Ill '-z 49,
mo a people he most powerful arr
re fortunes through which It passe,
Historically as d whole, and among thes,
the deepest and most tenacious a:'
when the existence or non-existence o
ths people = at stake.
Just here lies the secret. The ex
preston ''inspiration for the fatherlano
e not sufficiently clear 10 make /
understood by others how we can as
sociate war and the education of
people so closely. Is not war a de
S'royer? Many bloodstained pages o
history. especially OF the history o
Germany. whose soil has often been tn
aSh''rg ground for hordes of warrior
'or len wears at u time, tell us hoy
.riRhtful rs destructive power Is. HOY
cen the destroyer do any good? 1
what sense car we understand thos
words which schiller put into tn
mouth Of Max Piccolomin!: War
:sarfu ~ heavens plague; yet is
good, II = destiny" How can IL b
'.r wei spring especially of the dee
and fNe activities OF the inner lii
which NO include under the word educa
ton
Just the fact that T. is the greatest {
destructive powers hides the secret fror
rs Il drives MS to destroy what
'oiuabl" 70 us, to shatter what we low
M Just n this way does It's valu
r'ne into our consciousness.
le- us b-gn IN the small circle (
'a'niy lie. The husband, father, so
0tter. goes forth to the battlefield
'ehars rcvor 10 return. The rerew-
sal hard trial. Even here Il
nr!.y or tha' hour Of companionshil
o.''E = matter ~ cours" tcrore,
n.' Inherent IN dep.h and r1wcr,
t. daily pursuits are i1.oTed, ol
here j. grie, ling m.ss.np fhougi
~ ,1os" who have gone forth TO bait
h'F every day, every hour. what
'as.y mean; 70 n.- own, what VI
''He1 Co. sran,cG 10 now rec,griat
49, fuil r-luo, I'v..v hd.ca,;oa
-" u sree.a5 vi. ID. ...u.. Gad :.
md, which he'd all tose .h.i'. IL ei
looled 0y conInv- - :, y Wink
'-A forsetS sec. ~. tlpac ''lo lie Vi
here under TIE ..als. vLu ~. Narl
bi,tlo cannot Dat Ia" %. ,A-r home
.rY have oecO,u" o." ".' '.,... % DO.
"a u l.