South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-04-12


Of them except that Germany Is bad in every
thing she does and false In everything she says
am more anti-German even than most of my
countrymen, for / think the peaceful arts and
sciences Of Prussia. full Of pedantry and per
version and the cult OF panic were even worse
than the warlike arts and sciences OF Germany
full OF poisons and instruments Of torture
transferred for the first time to the battlefield
But think this dismissal OF the matter is
both easy and insufficient There are three
possible forms for the hostile Interpretation Of
Prussia % take: that Prussia is as ravening as
a wolf; that Prussia is as frightened as q
sheep, and that Prussia is wolf In sleeps
clothing. But none Of these fully explains the
sinking of the Arabic just before the overture
to America, and the sinking of the Hesperian
Just after It Even a wolf when attred in wool
Oike hygienic idealist) does not try to join
in the meadow gambols OF lamb in the
very act OF taking large bites out of another
He does not run round the neld kissing sheep
and eating sheep alternately.
II the pirate intended to go on. he would not
appear to give way; II ne had set the course
and intended TO sail by it, he certainly would
not relish striking his flag. even for moment
On the other hand, if he wanted to deceive. he
would try to deceive. If he wanted TO get an
broken. he would get the advantage first and
then break the promise. Whatever advantage
It was that the Prussian Government hoped to
get by apologizing TO the United States. from
the dream OF securing a sort OF halfpardon
from the Pope to the rapture OF calling mo-
mentary smile TO the acute countenance OF
Mr.. Wilson. II is quite impossible that the Prus
sian Government can have got II yet.
AS far as one can see, these abrupt changes
cannot be parts Of perfectly coherent plan.
And the explanation is, / am inclined to think
that they do not really come from one perfectly
coherent will. Something perhaps, must DO
allowed for practical failures in information
transmission, though / really think the
Prussians would rather plead anything han
plead frankly a fault in their organization
Something may be allowed for that but not
much. The German Empire really is materially
we'll organized.
But I am more and more inclined to doubt
that the German Empire is morally well or
ganized. In other words think that the bod
fes Of Germans are pretty thoroughly disci-
pllned; but gravely doubt whether the souls
OF Germans are really disciplined at ALL That
the Germans are patriotic is past all question;
Il is the most creditable thing about them
one is inclined to add Gin the condition al
which they have now arrfved) the only admir-
able thing about them But their national feel
ing is a feeling. 1t is not doctrine-or rather
1t is FIVE or six totally different doctrines When
FIVE men commit a murder from five different
motives the time comes when they discover
the difference
Physical Germany is built apon mental Ger.
many; AMI mental Germany is an anarchy. All
fits schools OF thought have, indeed, lived
hitherto in very drastic subordination to a
small class and to the officers of the State.
But that unity is simply bodily unity, and is
largely produced by mere bodily fear. The
ultimate Prussian doctrine is that the fear Of
the swor1 and not the fear OF the Lord is the
beginning OF wisdom; but It has the logical
consequence that the drawing of the sword Is
the beginning of a thousand follies.
We do not and cannot think Of defeat as the
worst thing possible any more than we
think Of war as the worst thing possible. To
us : defeated Kosciusko, a defeated Robert
Emmett not disgraced by defeat; but
defeated Bismarck would be simply a detected
rascal. | am not pronouncing here upon any
particular instance which would require a
military and scientific knowledge which l do
not possess; but I am pronouncing upon what
the test must be, and especially upon what II
must not be. II must not be merely the ques-
ton OF whether the enemy is or is not doing
some particular thing They said In the Mid
die Ages, think that the Devil was the ape
of God. II must not be said in any ages that
were the apes of the Devil.
When l say "we," l mean first, nv own
countrymen; further. the totally different ma
tons called Ireland and Scotland; and finally
all the countries which have kept the chivalry
and charity Of Christendom for much more
than a thousand years. They are now, thank
God. practically all embattled in defense of
that chivalry and charity, and are DONG JUS
tioe upon the proved enemies of both without
particle of doubt or fear.
The only limit they Will recognize will be
the strictly rational which l have stated.
They cannot strike those who would destroy
ths'r chivalry by destroying II themselves.
For the fighting spirit value It is the
flower OF a great many other things, and can.
not be separated from them kind OF cour
age can exist in a merciless and unmagnant
nous soldier, as II can exist in a merciless and
unmagnanimous wild pig; but il does not hap
pen to be the kind OF courage that our breth-
rem have died TO keep alive.
They have died for a certain spirit not at all
easy 70 define. and not at all necessary to de-
nh