New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-01-01
JOHN BURROUGHS ON KULTUR
His Reply to Professor Wien with Some Comment by
a Reader on German Appeals to America.

in that they do not know when they
give Just cause for offence If our
own political and historical knowledge
is not sufficient to form a basis for
such judgment we have been open TO
receive such knowledge from all Ou
self-constituted German mentors ever
since the beginning of the war. But 1t
is indeed futile for Professor Wien to
explain the German view of the origin
of the war. That view has already
been found either false or absurd by
tribunal OF public opinion as i'm
partial as it is possible for anything
human to be. The Tribune's editorial
page has riddled it time and again,
and it is perhaps hopeful sign that at
least one German professor has per-
ceived his own futility.
If Professor Wien desires John Bur-
roughs to retract all he has said con-
corning the good qualities of the Ger
mans it will probably need no more
urging than a continuance of the pres
ent obliquity of German moral percep-
tions. Other nations. with equally ad-
mirable qualities have before now
found themselves placed in false
and despieable position through hav-
ing ignorantly followed false gods and
have saved themselves az the eleventh
hour because one righteous man was
found among them to raise his voice
in protest. But if the German nation
solemnly and publicly and repeatedly
declares itself to be as one man anN-
ious to share the infamy of broken
faith, pillage, rapine and murder, for
which their present government is re-
sponsible in Belgium, why should we
insist on excusing them? Professor
Wien names Bismarck as Indeed the
national hero"-Bismarck, self-con-
fessed forger and plotter for the crime
of war-and quotes him as one desir-
ing peace, saying ave will never seek
quarrels" eighteen years after ne had
deliberately sought and obtained war,
perjuring himself and washing his
hands like PLATE publicly because
only himself knew how deep they were
stained in blood. A man without honor
is fit hero for nation without honor.
So be it.
AS for the threat of a diminished
sympathy from Germany, one can only
say that since sympathy requires some
harmony of thought between the
parties to il the United States would
be lost TO all her own ideals were she
to put herself in a position to gain
sympathy from Germany at present.
But perhaps the professor would offer
US the kind of sympathy the Kaiser has
for Belgium; his heart would bleed for
us il he could see Us n the same po-
sition as that unhappy country. That
kind Of sympathy also we can very
well dispense with.
His one question, whether il is "cor-
rect" for the people of a neutral coun-
try, like the United States, to take
sides in such a passionate manner,
may be answered by the statement that
neutrality is not supposed to turn
mans blood to buttermilk, and the
man who does not feel passlonately on
the subject of Germany's brutal ana
wanton attack on Belgium must nave
been born without bowels OF compass
sion. II is that act which inhames
the hearts OF men who have no direct
part In the quarrel, and no amount OF
Explanation" can blot II out hea-
sons may be given, but the worst muir
derer doubtless has reason for ms
act. Justification there is none. And
10 ask us 10 preserve Correct" atti-
tude on this question IS merely gro
tesaue, though hardly less so IMAM, IN
the face of it. 20 make the Engllsh
news responsible for the unfriendly
behavior of Americans" Is IT not
time the Germans showed some OF
their vaunted intelligence and ceased
burying their heads in the sand?
New York, Dec. 81, 1914. N. Is.