Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-04-05
Understanding Germany
tFrom the Kansas City Star.

tFfom the kansas City Star
When Mr.. Britling in II. G.. Wells
book comes across the German Hymn
of Hate" in the early days of the war
he is baffled by, it and suggests that he
would like to look inside the head of
the man who wrote 1T to see what was
going on there. The developments of
the war, including the Zimmerman
her lost provinces" in the United
States, have made many Americans
share Mr.. Britling's wonder.
Germany has shown national
thought and feeling so different from
that with which we are acquainted that
we are baftled for the explanation. How
can it be, we ask, that the men whom
thought-Ostwald and Eucken and Har-
nackIshould be talking like crazy
How can such a clear headed physi-
cist as Professor Ostwald say in the
Journal de Geneve: Germany, thanks
to her genius for organization, has at
tanned a stage of civilization far higher
than that OF all other peoples. Ger
many wants to organize Europe, for up
to now Europe never has been, organ
ized?' How can Professor Eucken say
that ito us, more than to any other
nation, is intrusted the true structure
of human existence?" How can the dis
tinguished theologian, Harnack, virtu-
ally repeat these words to delegation
of Americans?
How can a presumably sane Munich
professor, Baron Van Stengel, say: The
war has demonstrated throughout Its
been chosen by Providence. from among
all earths peoples, to put ourselves at
the head of all civilized nations and
guide them to sure peace under our
protection?
And how can scientific man, dis
tinguished ethnographer, K. Il. Woln,
Germany: THE conqueror must have an
absolute will to dominate and must
strive for the political and clinical an
IL sI.nat -. tGh 9
entirely ignore the fallacy that the van
quished have the right to maintain their
language and nationality victorious
people, invading a country, must insist
upon its privileges in the most ruthless
manner; it will commit no injustice in
doing so. 1T will merely derive the ma
tural consequences of it's position. Such
men as this can conquer, they are al
lowed to conquer, 1t is their duty to
conquer.
Dr. Emil Reich, professor of interna-
tional law in the University of Vienna,
wrote book in which he quoted from
periority of the German people to all
other nations. In other countries, he
said, occasional writings of this sort
appeared and were regarded as the
work of cranks. In Germany this feel
ing of German supremacy was "a vast
wave of national thought"
This national ambition, Doctor Reich
then predicted, must lead to war In
which Germany would seek to gain the
leadership OF Ine Worlu. filS pTeulCtioh
was correct. Most of the world is in
arms to-day to prevent Germany from
imposing its kultur on other peoples at
the point of the bayonet.
Two reasons for this strange self
exaltation are apparent in the history
of Germany. Within half century the
nificance to a position of leadership in
the world. A sudden rise to distinction
has demoralized individuals. In this
case 1t has affected a whole nation.
And in the second place the political
rise of Germany has been based on the
deliberate use of war as an instrument
of national policy. Such use of war is
abhorrent to Americans. 1t was given
the glamour of brilliant success by Bis
marck.
The effect has been to create a ma
tional spirit which has menaced the
civilization of the world. It is to curb
this dangerous spirit that the United
States is on the eve of war.