The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1915-04-03

L naQ 10 confess tndt L was not Wiling 10 agree
that they established Germany's easy pre-emi-
hence.
In fact the talk about such pre- -cmnencc struck
me being curiously oId-fashioncd. 1t suggested
a nation surrounded with a great fence, shutting
it off from the other nations.
This kind of situation is happily impossible at
this period of the worlds growth. Even the great
wall of China is obsolete There is no such thing
as civilized isolated nation and there is no such
thing nation pre-emincnt among the nations.
Railways and steamships, the telegraph. the tclc-
phone and wireless have drawn all the nations to-
gether and tended to make them progress to-
gethcr. What is best in the progress of Germany
stimulates the progress OF all of the other nations.
The discovery of German scientist is given to the
whole world. Similarly, Germany draws on the
whole world what the world does of human value.
To say that Germany prc-emncnt in all
departments of culture of advance in knowledge
or of methods of work would be absurd. To no
nation belongs such pre-cmnencc. The nation Of
culture, of true culture, far from desiring to keep
her best to herself is eager to disseminate every
where
There is something humorous in the talk just
now about German culture. One might think it
was commodity that had its origin and its growth
in Germany alone. But it is intimately related to
all culture. Ii it not, it would be rdiculously
limited and parochial. One of the worst betrayals
of its weakness lies in its self-consciousness and
sef-assertion If individual went about boast
ing of his culture he would be laughed at and sus-
pected of lacking culture. AS matter Of fact,
German culture is made up of English culture and
French culture and Spanish culture and Russian
culture, not to speak of many other kinds of cu-
ture There is such thing patriotism in cu-
ture nationality, though culture is often spoken
OF national Essentially it is founded on hui
mainly at large, without reference to boundaries,
and essentially it is opposed to the misunderstood
ing and the differences that divide humanity.
In all the talk there are no arguments
more shallow and wrong minded than those claim
ing that the is in defense of German culture.
AS if German culture or any other Culture needed
to be defended by force of arms, and as if all cu-
ture and not in their nature hostile. 1t
is true that what is called German culture and the
war spirit grew side by side in Germany. But they
were not in any way related. On the contrary, one
worked for narrow and selfish ideals, the other
worked for ideals that universal If German
culture had anything to do with the it would
not deserve the name of culture.
As3or the efficiency of Germany, what is most
pathetic about it has been the msdirection. Where
it has been wisely directed it has been example
and stimulus to the whole world. The splendid
management Of the German cities, for example,
has been guide to some OF our own cities. But
the spirit of militarsm has been like diabocal
religion, rather like a religious mania. 1t has
spread such uneasness among the neighboring ma
tions to create something OF its own madness.
No wonder Europe suddenly converted into
bedlani. And easily all the energy behind
the outburst might have been stored and used not
for destruction but for construction, not for
anguish but for happiness, not for waste but for
increase.
| There are those who, in this crisis, hope that
| Germany will fall and be crushed. They are the
resentful people of hasty judgment. As matter
of fact Germany cannot be crushed and cannot
fall, the real Germany, the Germany that expresses
the character and the force of the German people.
Though the Kaiser may fall, the German people
will remain.