The sun., 1918-10-15
~raErR VERY EXISTENCE"
The Suppressed Term In the Logic OF
German Ambitions.

The Suppressed Term in the Logic OF
German Ambitions.
To THE EDITOR OF THE SuN--Str: In
n very interesting study which a French
writer has made, entitled LES Causes
Profondes de In Guerre,' occurs this
statement Of the military aims OF Ger
many: "Elle lutte pour son existence
uui, pour ellie, ne confond avec celle
du Divin sur Ia terre; ga cause fait
une ayec celle do rhumantte--tine force
religieuse."
We are by this time pretty well adj
vised as regards Germany's ideals
touching her Colt given mission on the
earth. which mission is closely con-
nected with her very existence" But
there seems still to be q lack OF def
initeness regarding the nature OF her
"existencc." This, OF course. may be
considered as closely tied up with the
existence of that divine appointee the
Kaiser, and his family. (See the ex-
Queen Of Greece to that effect-"My
brother 10 fighting to save his dynasty"
in that ladys mind apparently
good and sufficient cause for the blood
letting Of the entire worldly
Germany is fighting for her exist
ence" as included In Hohenzollernism
Granted. There remains an ellipsis,
which is one largely Of geographical
contours. And sometimes, II one
chances to como upon a Teuton bitten
with tho n-Germanic idea Uuckily
a rare chance in these days), one may
get an approximate notion as to the
territorial extent OF that existence"
In this connection 1 have always re-
membered a conversation held just be-
fore America entered the world war. In
which young German baron took
part. The conversation was, needless
to say. about the war. how 1t had come
about the aims of the belligerents, &c.
But Germany Is lighting for her very
existence" exclaimed the young Bran
denburgian. An exasperated woman.
who had been listening only in the
conversation, turned upon him: That
is what all you Germans say--that you
are fighting for your very existence
1t Is most absurd. Everybody knows
that Germany was in no danger Of
having her existence interfered with.
On the contrary, she was honored
among the other countries Of Europe
and elsewhere for all that was good
and efficient in her and her institu-
tons, and her people were contented
and thriving, and so far as any one
could know were satisfied with their
existence Now, Just what do you
mean by fighting for your eSistence'?'
"Ah, 1 see-you do not understand"
hn ny1t. MI NHa m
withdrew from the conversation. with
considerable of the majestat belonging
to his order. When he had departed,
soon after. as IL to avoid further ques-
tioning. one OF the company took up
the subject: IT'S true, we don't under
stand--not all. and not all OF u.s..
Yet few have glimmering as to
what they mean by their very exist
ence"; for the meaning is there, In the
subconsciousness of every German talk
ing in that vein. even though the
meaning may not he thoroughly well
defined to themselves. We'll what
do you think tine meaning tsp some
one asked. 'Why. they mean their ex-
istence as masters OF the world. the
Mittel-Europa idea plus the Drang mach
osNU3i thN ieotii N'thi' thS
dotted lines OF their imayination--a
very large and splendid Hypothetical
territory--if you put 1t in terms OF a
geonetric demonstration" To which
some one present added, "Aa existence
that doesn't exist" Precisely. They
have only anticipated; they are fighting
for their anticipation: though not every
German may know this. Il Is the under
lying feeling Of ALL" But isn't that
like the old story OF the boy and his
rats? The boy said. When catch this
rat. ard another I'm going to catch, 1
shall have two rats"
It Is a far cry from this trivial jocu-
lar instance back 10 the Teutonic
sphere OF influence" as hoped for by
that race. and to It's mission OF 'Divin
sur la terre." Yet am persuaded the
parallel can he made with propriety,
and that profound student of causes"
could bring to demonstration all that
is implied in the crafty suppressed
term of thei' German logic: They are
fighting for their existence their exist
ence (trending on futurity), world
domination. Ergo. they nrc fighting for
world domination.
EpIrH ". THOMAS.
New YORK., October II.