New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-10-27

To the Editor Of The Tribune.
Sir: In answer to the letter of F. E. J.. IT,"
asking what particular manifestations Of Ger
many's talents and civilization valuable 70
The world to-day have impressed me, sub
nit the following:
Briefly they are included in the following
characteristics or activities industry,
her thorouChness, her efficiency. her humility
in the real sense Of not being TOO proud TO
learn from any one or to work hard), her
ability 10 cooperate socially "a a nation ner
care Of the poorer classes, her municipal gov
eminent and her zeal in education.
l. Of course. recognize the debt OF the
world in the past for the English notions Of
freedom, etc, mentioned by +. +. j., jr.. but
am speaking Of the comparative value OF
the two civilizations to-day. What has each
20 offer now which the world in general land
the United States and Ireland in particular
has not yet fully In it's grasp? We have
tnken Engand's gifts in the past and have
further developed them. She, it would seem
to me. has little for us to-day, whereas Ger
many in the last fifty years has been and still
is developing or making workable new talents
lin the lines mentioned above) which will
ptove genuinely helpful and valuable TO the
~orld.
Ny judgment on the merits Of the German
civilization is based chiefly on their achieve
mcnts before the war. The war has added
however. new proof of the further virtue OF
courage in fighting tremendous odds, both
numerically and financially or economically.
FEE. j.. jr., is pleased to be sarcastic and
charging various crimes against Germany and
the Germans in their conduct of this war.
asks which Of these seem TO me manifesto
tons Of superior civilization? Some OF his
charges have been denied By the Germans
and the others justified on the ground Of
military necessity, just as Sherman's raw
ages in Georgia were so justified.
Similar charges OF dastardly conduct have
teen made against IN. Allies by the Germans
and likewise denied by the Allies. | am not,
Of course, in a position TO prove or disprove
the charges against either nor. for that mat
ter. is +. f. J., jr., or any average American
bat from the ante-bellum reputation Of Ger
many for honesty and reliability I see no
reason to doubt her word any more than, II
A much as, the word Of the various Allies
have no doubt that part Of the atrocity
charges on both sides is true, and that such
charges will be true 10 certain extent
against all armies in wars TO come for many
generations.
II +. Z. j., jr.. does not know that similar
charges % dastardly conduct have been made
against the Allies. a perussl Of the Father
Lend" or the "Staats-Zeitung" will repay him
As matter Of fact, both sides are, Of
course, excited perhaps almost hysterical-
and it is excusable, if not inevitable, that
their partisans should overstate, if not mis-
state. the wrongdoing Of the enemy.
II is safer 10 take the testimony OF neu-
trails where possible and articles by Ameri-
cans. such as those Of James O'Donnell Ben
nett. in The Tribune from time 70 time, and
that OF George b. Mcclellan in last Sundays
Times" give Us quite different picture Of
the work Of Germany's fighting machine than
the London tales OF child killers" mutt
lators Of the dead" etc.
n the testimony as 20 atrocities were all
one sided. perhaps an error in judging the
value OF the contenting civilizations would
argue not only mental stupidity but also
moral obloquy; but there is so much testi-
mony on both sides that it is surely debat-
able question and coming honestly 70 a pro-
German conclusion is quite as compatible
with sincere American patriotism and with
the traditions 90 Irish ancestors as is the
opposite conclusion.
10 not know that the foregoing state
rsnt will make clear TO F. r. j.. jr., my rea-
sons for admiring Germany and believing
that her victory would benefit the world. and
especialy the United States and Ireland; but
even IL | have failed therein have no apollo
Ces-my original letter was not intended