The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-04-16
PSYCHOLOGY OF KULTUR.
A Student Of Teutonic Procedure
Asks: Don't These People See?"

To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN-Sir. Tho
German note Of protest against our al
legged failure to preserve a Just neutral
| ity seems to give concrete occasion for
summarizing certain reflections In which
We have doubtless all INDUCED and
which have found voice, more OF less
disconnectedly, from time to time.
Is II sincere or pure blum, this amas-
ing German attitude arrogating TO them
selves the right TO violate at Will every
law of God and man. while they demand
from others not merely a strict observ-
ance of established international regu-
lations but even an extension OF these
In Germany's favor?
In support of the former sippOsition,
the sincerity theory. IL the intense Ger
man self-centredness. which 10 so often
incapable Of glimpang. much less real
izing, anything counter 20 their point OF
view. interests or theories. On the other
hand may he argued, for the ''blun'
hypothesis, their knowle dge Of the weak
ness, moral and mental. of our present
Government.
It Is Interesting to speculate az TO
Just what would have happened to an
American warship which after having
sunk "A German merchantmen without
shadow of right had steamed impudently
into a German port and called for sup
plies, repairs and protection to enable
her to go out and do 1t again. II Is
very safe to assume that the visitor
would not have been treated with the
peculiar favor accorded the Ettel Fried
rich, and perhaps Germany Is not al
together uniustlfed In hazarding that
Mr.. Wilson's and Mr.. Bryans fear OF
the German American vote may lead
them to even greater lengths. Prob
ably the proponents had not, as yet, read
the handwriting on the wall tho Chi
cago election figures. which fully bear
out what | have heretofore contended,
In answer TO certain correspondents,
that any attempt to infuse a pro-Ger-
man note ms such In our politics would
he rebuked sharply and Enthusiastically
without any need OF organization to
that end.
As for the facts Of Germanys re-
peated deliberate and systematically
planned violation OF the laws, human
md divine. much has been said. At
first. I confess, received the tales Of
the Belgian atrocities with the reserva-
lions usually justifahle in such cases,
When, however, the authentic narrative
u Louvain. the bombardment without
warning OF dcfencelcss English towns
and the submarine threat followed by
tho murder OF the Falahas passengers
with its wide applause and futile de-
fence showed clearly that Germany was
launched on calculated war OF terror
ism; that the would-be super1nen had
become really superficnds; then II
seemed logical to receive the accuse
tons against them much more literally.
In every court the established character
Of the accused is surely pertinent.
With reference to these German re-
dictionary theories Of warfare. involving
ali Of "a 20 haa
som. bombarding unfortified places and
fortified ones without notice, the hold
ing of innocent hostages 10 strict re-
sponsihlity for the acts OF stray indi-
viduals maddened by violence and
wrong, the blatant disregard Of all In
tcrnational sea law devised 20 protect
non-Nomhatants, these things come down
20 the plain Have your cake and eat
II" notion. with tragic details.
What we see Is a frank reversion. on
principle. 20 early barbarisn. and with
It an utterly Illogical purpose to hold
the civilian TO an accountability based
on tho later civilization theory OF his
being protected Germany attacks him
for the PRONUNCIATION OF "frightfulness''
and treats him as u murderer II he de-
tends himself
Truly IN. mind Is dazed and We come
back 10 the question: don't these people
see, or don't they care? Can any race
afford 10 lay up for Itself a heritage OF
world hatred? Forceful evidence OF the
general feeling was brought home 70 me
the other day when I learned that the
eight-year-old son Of a friend had de
stroyed all the German stamps In hts
collection.
When the very children OF "neutrals"
feel Ike that II means much. Is Ger
many prepared 20 ACCEPT the certain