The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-10-02
Why Not Treat Prussia
Like Turkey?

His views seem TO me singular in them
selves. and especially singular in him. He
seems to rebuke those who hope for a final
breaking OF the Prussian power. as II Indicating
that so powerful widespread, and well-armsd
a combination cannot be reduced 20 impotence.
i should say that IL Is precisely because Il Is
powerful Widespread, and wellarmed that it
must be reduced 10 impotence. II is a paradox,
but very practical truth. that what Is indis-
pensable is generally nearly impossible. Un-
less the enemy we're strong enough to hurt
US. II would not be necessary or indeed justi-
fable, for US to hurt him.
But II the attitude be strange In any case
1t is especially strange in one with Mr. Bux-
toms almost romantic record. Surely-he OF all
people ought not to say that it is impossible
ultimately to break the back OF a great en-
pre OF great military prestige. II Turkey
had been left powerful. II Turkey had been
left united, IL Turkey had been left as Mr..
Buxton would apparently leave Germany the
Turks would have been far too happy shooting
Macedonians TO trouble about shooting him.
What Mr.. Buxton thinks Il impossible to do IL
what Mr.. Buxton has been largely Instrumental
In doing. He has seen--and. as Imagine ap-
prove-the cutting down OF of the great
conquering empires OF the Continent to the
smallest margin OF what II has conquered
We could not send the Turks back to their
own country. because they never had one:
We could only In a certain large degree distrain
upon stolen goods. But we did take away from
friends in the Balkans did-enough to prevent
their being a power in the sense OF keeping
other people powerless. There cannot be the
smallest moral excuse for restricting the Turks
10 little more than Constantnople which is not
also moral excuse for restricting Pfusslanism
20 little more than Berlin. That Il is much
more difficult TO 10 makes IL much more neces-
sary to do IL. And II we do not do It II we do
not disarm Prussia as we have disarmed Tur.
Key, then indeed. In the very wise words of
a French Socialist uttered the other day, "the
greatest effort ever made by the human race
Will have been made I'm vain"
] should agree with Mr.. Buxton on the ren-
eral rule that no European nation should be re-
duced because It is defeated. But I cannot
understand why he should see that the Turkish
case Is IN exception. and not see that the Prus-
sian case - an exception also They are ex-
ceptions for this vital reason. that they do not
Ieciprocate a nationalist liberation. They win
not place their community inside the European
community; they are always outside a., whether
as outcasts or as invaders The Turks QUE
themselves above all national affections upon
= supposed supernatural rig1lt. now a thousand
years old and only now beginning to wear thin
1ae Prussians put themselves above all ma.
uonai directions upon a supposed natural right
which Is nov only fifty years old The natural
right is more uhEs'urai than the mystic one.
The Sacred Dogma
of German Superiority.
The profound imposslbility OF Pruss's con.
sists ultimately In this that she has broken an
implied understanding among an Christian men
by taking victory too seriously Glory is only
q good thing when u h. a good lOke with an
the other peoples success has been Legitimate
vanity and not a laUlcss pride. The French
we're naturally proud Of having ridden into the
gate Of almost every European city; but they
we're equally satisfied with having ridden ont
again. and they were quite az conscious of
their defeats as Of their victories. draping the
statue OF strasburg and probing the wound OF
Waterloo
But the Prussians have broken an this I'm
piled balance Of battles BY building on one
victory a domination that Il meant 10 last Tor
ever. They built on the battlefield % Sedan
not a temporary trophy. but e tower OF eternal
brass. What happened after or during 1870
vas not primarily the union OF Germany but
rather the division Of Europe u vas divided
Into Germans and non-Germans u vas made
somothlnR more even than a racial Il was
made q biological division There was sup
posed 10 be fundamental and physical su-
periority. a. Of the German eagle over The
Gallo cock.
Only one dogma win always remain sacred,
the dogma OF the Germans superiority Only
one duty Wili never BE- iifted on him. the duty
Of praising himself He Il Tree 10 DO every-
fhina except repent