New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-01-04
THE COMMON PEOPLE OF GERMANY
Miss Doty's View That They Are Ripe tor
Revolt Is Opposed
To the Editor Of The Tribune.


Sir: believe that Miss Doty's current
articles are doing n great deal of harm IN
impressing the idea on America that Ger
many is Awakening This last Sunday she
insists that the common people OF Germany
are not Prussanized, because they have not
received a Prussian education; that they have
become chastened by suffering; that, if peace
arrives before exhaustion, they will be sole
to assert themselves. She cites Bavaria as
already hostile to Prussia.
Il happens that / have an impression OF
Bavaria founded upon a long and intimate
friendship now terminated. mention with
emphasis that my impression contradicts
Miss Doty's absolutely. Accounting for the
sources OF her impression seems fairly easy.
II can explain il away even for one reader
/ think shall be doing a salutary thing.
One can gain an impression of a country
through its collective expression, which is
governmental, traditional, significant; and
one can depend upon friend or friends.
Miss Doty has seen Germany in the latter
way. To readers in possession Of its collec-
tive xpression-Belgium, the Lusitanla,
Belgium again-she opposes an individual
expression, which is popular, transitional
and not significant other than in its supply
of sentimental points. 1t may point one way,
as in the case OF my friend, or it may point
the other, as in the case of hers. Miss Doty
admits, moreover, finding friends with the
same customs, the same habits, talking OF
the same things" as herself. Through her
articles she has given their opinions, backed
by her own. which we're formed in their
company. That is, moving among people
Of like opinions, she conveys to Usher own
opinion. As she says: Seated in the Munich
apartment, | might have been in my own
studio in Washington Square We can
gauge the accuracy Of advanced Washington
Square ideas concerning Germany by consid-
erng how accurately these Washington
Square ideas would apply to the inertia Of our
own national condition. | could wish that
Miss Doty had remained in Washington
Square. rather than At this critical time Civ
ing weight by her impressions to the idea
that mlitarism is on the wane in Germany
and urging on this account a peace con-
demned for every thoughtful person by the
fact that the Kaiser wants it.
But. her readers will say, how account for
the popular demonstrations against Prus
sanism? Very simply. Germany is under
pressure. At such times, in any country,
the soap box orator comes into his own. Re
fleet on our own periods OF economic depres
sion: men stop to hear anything at all, espe
cially if il be against the ruling class. With
prosperity and good job. they pass by ideas
with a smile. The so-called common peo-
pie" arc TO be looked TO only in revolution
what We arc hoping they will reach in Ger
many. To advocate removal Of the pressure,
as Miss Doty does. and a return TO prosperity |
and the smile is pardon me TO work with
the haiser's emissaries who are spending so
lsvishly to that end.
One of them was quoted By The Tribune In |
response 10 the latest English note. Any one
who will read that note and then this Ger
mans comment-"It's play TO the gallery
will understand his countrys moral condition
vastly better than through Miss Doty's i'm
pressions.
Revolution is the only remedy. admittedly. !
To say. however. that the blockade, which |
has already caused talk Of it., can now be
removed is TO perpetrate what many Of us
think the real play to the gallery an ex-
ceedingly dangerous one. America being what
IL is dangerous, not TO the Allies, nor to |
the Germany now undergoing salutary up
heaval. but simply and solely to ourselves.
Help TO open the cage before the beast is
tanned. Miss Doty. and even our worst senti-
mentaists will regret your talent. r.
Cornwall, y. Y, Jan. /. 1917.