The sun., 1918-07-28

here also the phenomenon VI uei niah
inhumanity finds its explanation. 1t Il
only the isolated man who is cruel. He
who lives much among animals soon real.
ICES that they and he have at least one
common bond-the capability Of feeling
pain. He who lives much among his fel-
low men notes their joys and sorrows,
their ills and comforts; he has ample
evidence that their experiences are akin
to his own. Hence he does not want to
hurt either the animal or the fellow man,
for he has a personal appreciation OF the
pain they would have TO endure. So his
sympathies are enlarged; his standards
Of kindness and justice become obJectI-
fed; he adopts common rule OF far
treatment; he finds himself reflected in
these other sentient beings and learns to
do as be would be done by.
Lacks Any Common Humanity.
But the German does not live in our
world of fellow feeling. He has no OBJ
jective standards because there is moth
ing outside of himself He lacks human
ity and mercy because he does not exist,
empirically, in the world where such hui
name qualities of character are in daily
operation. Just here lies the peril Of
the German attitude He is irresponsible
in what he thinks and does; whatever he
chooses is right because it cannot be
proved to be wrong, that is, it cannot be
I'll al,
of values. The lives and property OF
the Allies are in the non German world,
therefore non-exstent to him. Why should
he spare themi The only possible sin
could be the spilling of German blood or
the destruction OF German realities. What
is the use of protesting against his brutal
ity7 How impossible TO persuade him
that he is wrong. or cruel, or barbrousl
Those are terms taken from the world
which he despises and denies.
We have, then, in Germany nation
which is in the world but not of it; ma
ton with self-made standards, its own
Judge and censor. Separated from the rest
of us by an isolated egotsm, she has
taken on an intolcrablc egotsm and de-
fiancc. No appeal OF humanity can move
her; no protest can reach her; no mere
threat can deter her. Her aim is to ap-
propriate whatever of the non-German
world she needs and to throw the rest
away or destroy It's further usefulness.
Such Spirit Must Be Crushed.
This spirit IS the background whence
issue her lnIquItous policies; it is the
substratum from which rises her unbear-
able arrogance; it is the cloak which she
throws around the secrets of her diaboli-
cal system of espionage. Such a spirit,
we declare, must be crushed and annihi-
lated The German mind must be objec-
tilted. 1t must abandon It's irresponsible
idealism. 1t must accord to all nations,
itself included, the right, nay, the duty,
to exist and TO develop side by side on
peace basis.
What will pierce tie bubble of her iso-
lated idealism! That depends largely on
the temper of the people themselves Per-
haps a sweeping allied victory will suffice.
If not, more drastic measures must be
employed. In any ease, constant pressure
must be eXerted on her vital sources of
life until PrussianiSm is incapacitated and
helpless as an international peril The
trend Of civilization is toward free gov
eminent and democracy. Germany must
JOIN the procession of advancing nations
or be crushed under their footsteps.
At the present time let no one express
sympathy for Germanys impending
downfall. She would not understand it,
nor does she deserve it. She merits the
superlative degree of moral detcstation.
Her greatness has shrunk; her prestige
is gone; her ease demands the penalty of
political and social oStracism until the
Germans themselves wash the stain from
the word Prussia. The fools of the uni
verse are those of us who refuse TO be-