Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1917-02-28
THE SWORD IS MASTER, NOT SERVANT, IN
GERMANY.

GERMANY.
(, INCE the beginning OF the European there have
~ been many attempts to analyze the difference be-
tween the psychology of the Prussan military caste
which rules Germany and that of the people OF such
sefgoyernlng demooraces Great Britain, France
and tho United states Since the OF diplo-
matte relations with Germany by this country and tho
murder Of Americans on the Laconla, 10 is important
that Americans should understand that difference
That there is difference wide and deep as the
great oceans; that this difference the fundamental
OF the and that it is what has caused the
break between the United States and Germany is the
most generally accepted Interpretation OF the calsm
tous situation which the world faces today.
One of the men who is writing most sanely and in
telligonty about the psychological and spiritual
poets Of the is Gilbert Murray of England.
In a recent of the Westminster Gazette ante
dating the break between America and Germany, Muir
ray his Interpretation OF tho irreconcable con-
dict between the Prussian mental attitude toward mill
tarsm and the mental attitude Of the rest of the
world.
The recent Prussian determination 10 torpedo hui
mainly because Il fitted into Prussan military plans
perfectly logical development OF tho Prussian
conception OF civilization interpreted by Murray
We take the liberty OF publishing the following
synopsis OF Gilbert Murrays article:
1--WE all remember the old philosophc doctrine Of the
Social contract the origin Of ordered society that
men lived at first in state of nature with no laws
no duties to another, relationshp--eyery
wolf to every other man-and. then finding that
dition ntolorablo they met together and made
tract, and hence civilized society Before any
contract is possible there must be at least the ee-
mcntary understanding that il man pledges his word
he should keep it,
at IS that primary understanding that elementary
OF brotherhood or OF public right, which it
seems to the present government Of Germany
dealing with foreign nations sought to stamp
Of existence 1t has rejected the old ordinance which
has held civilized Europe together. It has acted on a
new ordinance that every nation shall be a wolf to
its neighbor.
put BADLY thus. this degree OF wickedness will
seem hard believe OF such a nation Germany. The
neutral will suspect that are just venting anger
in abuse. But I think how It came about
Germany the great country OF specialization Above ALL
has produced the specialized soldier not the Chris
an soldier. the chivalrous soldier, the soldier with
the Of civil dutes but the soldier who is trained
be soldier and nothing else. to disregard all the
rest OF human relations all his countrys neigh
bors merely enemies to be duped and conquered to
all life according system OF perverted bio
logy as mere struggle OF force and fraud. The
have created this type OF soldier. able
trated, conscenceess and remorseess; and then
what no people in the world has donethey have
given the nation TO his guidance.
"Of course we all have armies. We all have mill
ary experts and strategsts But with the rest Of us
the soldier the last resort like the executioner
We call him up only when all other have failed
But in Germany the soldier is always present He is be-
hind the dplomatist behind the educator, behind the
preacher; behind the philosopher his study and
the OF science in his laboratory always present
and always in authority.
"In other nations the sword is the servant OF the
public welfare savage servant used but in the
last necessity; in Germany all the resources OF the
nation, its banks and railways its schools univer
stiles its very religion and philosophy. tho ser
wants OF the sword
1T is this which gives to present war something
OF the quality OF a crusade against the nfdel It is
this which makes peace so difficult and confidence so
impossible. 1t something approaching to this
which made it impossible Europe live at peace
with Napoleon for tho other italian States TO live at
peace with Cesare Borga.
"And the tragedy is that, in each case so much de-
voton such great virtues should he used merely as
tools toward purpose which the human conscience
rejects as intolerable"
To Mr. Murray's article the American reply must be
that II the German view he that any crime against
neutrals which makes for German success is iustia
able then the American mailed fist must meet the
German mailed fist and beat down both Il and tho
blood-soaked policy which supports it. The Iaoonia
incident would to indicate that Germany courts
the issue That being true. IL Is time in the face
Of such arront, for backing and filling IN Wash
ingon.