New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-10-29
AN ENGLISHMAN1S PRAISE or
GERMANYS FIGHT FOR EMPIRE
England" BY j. A. CRANE late professor Of Modern His
tory in Queens College, London.

mis- synpatkeiic account Of German an
5it,9ns. ,oith prediction o. c1r. tccS
trl4tt,r 4r,c1 nosr, j>'o5e the oufbrcq. o.
hosHuncs. The pas.ay.s aJ> reprinted from
Mc recently p15'.eaea sgio,o. "g,Tmany and
England" by .5ectqi arrangement rim IN
publishers in rs c9,Hhy, Mesrs. Z. r
Du,t0n d 90.
have described the attitude OF the
youth of Germany, eoldiers, students
professors, politicians, writers OF books
Their position Is clear. Are We 70
acquesce," they ask, I'm England's pos
session Of one-ftth Of the globe, with
no title deeds, no claim, except priority
IN robbery? Our greatest teachers &c
describe it," And | showed you how
young Germans Of the twentieth cen
tury can, in support Of this position
appeal TO the representations OF Eng
lish history by many Of the most com
handing intellects Of their own nation
expressed in guarded or unguardcc
terms.
/ And then follows the fixed and iney-
table conclusion, now silent but deeply
and passionately resentful, now clam
Orous and aggressive, rs M the Prusslar
war party and its adherents in every
rank Of Prussian life: as all indeed
lost; and is the war FOR the worlc
ended? In the world arena has Ger
many, like Il bolated champion, grit IN
her shining srmor. ridden up 10 the
great tourney 100 late? Has Destiny
like 3 herald, by trumpet's SOUND
IL 3. -. "a
splintered sword which Germany ha,
at last succeeded in welding into Z
solid blade so dazzling and terrific
must it indeed rest in its sheath for
ever? Can the youth OF Germany &C
quiesce in this cOwardly remuneration
and not forfeit honor and, with honor
manhood" Hence the real force and the
real meaning Of BcrnhardI's lterateC
watchword: Empire or Downfall -
Weltmacht oder Niederganc" II is a,
/ if he said: world Dominion Of
/ Death"
have lived amongst Germans anc
know something OF the temper OF Ger,
msny's manhood and Of her youth
have read much i'm her history and in
her literature. have been impressed
as with the motions OF tides and OF
great rivers, by the majesty of that
movement by which, from the days o.
the Saxon and the HOhenstaufcn En-.
perors, through centuries OF feuda
anarchy and dislntegration made still
more disintegrated by the convulsivt
forces of the fiercest religious strife
she has attained to her position t.-day;
and with the best will in the world
can see no issue TO the present collision
OF ideals but tragic issue. England
indeed, desires peace; England, indeed
II - certain, will never make war upon
Germany; but how is the youth Of Ger.
many, the youth Of that nation great in
arts as ~ war, 70 acquiescc in the
world predominance Of England? With
what thoughts are they 10 read the
history and the literature Of their coun-
try? Ii, from love OF peace or dread
OF war, Germany submits. it would
seem as II her great soldiers had
fought in vain, Is II the long roll OF
her battles had passed like an empty
sound, as if the Great Elector and
Frederick, Stein and Scharnhorst and
Bismarck had schemed in vain, as If her
thinkers had thought their thoughts
and her poets had dreamed their dreams
not less in vain. But If. on the other
hand, Germany has not declined from
her ancient yalOr the issue is certain,
and q speedy issue.
II is war.
At the present stage Of world history
II is, course, useless to seek b prac-
teal policy in arbitration. II would be
= waste ot words even TO demonstrate