The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1918-08-02
LET Us STUDY OUR ENEMIES

Let Is take q little time 70 dis
sect our great enemy, Germany; not
literally carve her up, pleasant as
that occupation might be from some
standpoints. but TO carefully exam
ne her peculiar spirit, go below the
surface and see Of what It is made
This proceeding. in the minds OF
some people, is useless, not 70 say
harmful. expenditure of time and
effort. There is no need of spend
ing thought upon Germany, they
say All she needs is a Knockout
blow and q speedy burial. What
she Is or what she has been does
not concern Us. This kind Of talk
may De evidence Of splendid spirit,
but it is surely poor judgment.
4 plague Is rife in Germany-an
old plague, one in no wise peculiar
TO the German people. 1t has broken
out often in other times, in other
places, among other peoples. The
present manifestation IS its most VIZ
ulent form. that IS all. It may, prob
ably. will break out somewhere else
in years 10 come. We are citizens
Of the world. We and our children
will have to live on here for long
time 10 come. What We are inter
ested in, therefore, above all, at this
time Is the eradication Of this evil.
If the war brings this about it is
success, If it does not, it is a
failure Nothing else counts.
But how shall We 90 about II
Just as We would go about the
stamping out OF any other pestilence.
First OF all. We must use vigorous
and thorough going measures TO get
the present outbreak under control.
At the same time we must very
carefully examine into the nature Of
the evil We must learn all we can
about 1.-THE conditions under which
ii thrives, the host it feeds on. the
most effective prophylactic measures.
No plague was ever eradicated by
calling Il names. In wiping out for
good this world evil We must use the
methods Of modern science. not
those Of the medicine man
First Of all we must look at the
symptoms. Il Is evident Al
glance that our patient Is suffering
from 2 severe exaggeration OF ma
tionalist spirit. 4 certain amount
OF national pride, Ike pride OF fam
ily. church or club, Is q good thing.It
stimulates 70 worthy effort. But
when . people set Up their state a
4 sacred thing, demanding the ALSO
lutte allegiance OF all citizens as their
highest duty. a thing without obliga-
tons and without morals, their pa
triotism becomes a blight al home
and an uncomfortable meance 70 the
world This Is what has happened in
Germany. They have applied the
law OF the survival Of the fttest IN
the political field, and believeing
that the strongest state Is the one
God has ordained 70 survive They
lose sight Of the fact that the state Is
not living thing itself, but merely
z convenient grouping Of people for
political purposes Il Is q tool, moth
ing more One might just as vel
talk OF survival OF the fittest among
houses OF 'tand-saws.
In order TO make the state strong
the German people have endured an
autocratie form Of government For
their purpose i Is a splendid thing.
II = state wishes 70 make an in1rne-
date impress upon the rest Of the
world u must concentrate It's power
into few hands. We are learning
that n America AZ the present mo-
ment- The theory Of the sovereign.
militant national state goes hand in
hand with an autocratic government
They must stand or fall together.
This then IS what Is the matter
with Germany Nzti0nalism and
Autoerzcy- In later article we viii
examine into the history Of the case.
l. ?. JACKSON.
Professor Of American Historv.
State College Of Washington