The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1918-01-05
The Interest Of America In the Grca.
War.

Cby Frank ]. Goodnow, president
Johns Hopkins University
Paris in three weeks, London N
three months, New York in thre,
years was the accepted German pro
gram.
The Pan-German propaganda which
mad been going on for the last 2s
years proved beyond the peradventurt
or doubt that the only reason VIII,
the attempt had not been made be.
ore TO realize the grandiose concep.
ton OF German world domination is tf
DC round in the fact that those re
sponsible for 1t were not ready. The
day had not yet come. But in Aug.
ust' 1914, 1t was believed that the
hour had struck. A short aggressive
and successful war and the dream OF
centuries would be reality. Paris IN
three weeks, London in three months
New York In three years was the ac-
cepted German program.
That the Germans might thus
dream Of world domination we MAY
possibly comprehend. But that the
German people should be willing to
resort to the practices of which they
have been shown to be guilty in or
der to realize their dream was hard .
y TO be believed. They have, how.
ever, under Prussian influence, adopt
ed philosophy Of life which make.
1t impossible for other nations and
peoples to coexist on terms of equal
ity. The pride indicated in the clas-
sic boast OF Roman citizenship is al.
most abject humility when compar
ed with the belief Of the modern Ger
mans In their superiority to other peo
pies. For the Roman was willing SO
long as his political power was recog
nized to permit conquered races to
live In a condition Of at least an an
Proclamation to social and economic
quality. The modern German, how
ever. declares with a contemptuoua
frankness all non -Teutonic civiliza
ton to be unworthy of perpetuaticn
and announces his intention to dis
perse its degenerate followers to those
parts OF the earth where they will
least interfere with the spread OF
Deutsche Kultur. To him the Teutons
are the people chosen Of God to re
deem the world. Those who resist the
Will OF God are guilty Of impiety and
for them no fate is too nard. With
them no engagement however sacred
need be kept. No means is too vile to
resort to IL II is thought to aid in
the accomplishment OF the divine pur-
pose. Never since the times of the
Old Testament has a nation so de.
spised its neighbors as do the Ger.
mans OF this day and hour. We mus,
go back to the days OF Assyria and
Rome to find examples Of such treat
nent Of subjugated peoples asImod-
srn German policy presents. Either
Germany must be taught to see the
error OF her ways or we non-Ger-
mans must reconcile ourselves to be-
come tho submissive slaves of Ger
man masters. The fate of Belgium
and northern France may we'll be
ours.
But detestable as the German phil
osophy of life 10. no one can doubt
the trhlmphs Of Teutonic efficiency.
Probably never in the history of the
human race has so large a body OF
men become capable OF such efficient
action as has the German nation in
recent years. From scientific point
OF view from military point Of view,
from an economic point OF view, from
a social point of view, Germany has
shown great strength. Opposed by al
most the entire world she is still un-
conquered. To teach her the lesson
she must be taught will require the
devotion Of all the power of those al
lied against her.
The non-German world is. then, at
the present time confronted by an ad-
versary who combines unbounding
ambition and insufferable arrogance
with unexamplod efficiency and un.
without limit. We
Americans far removed as we are
from the scene OF Germany's first ef.
forts to realize her ambitions, form
an important part OF the non-Teu-
tonic world. We must not lull our
selves into security because of the re-
moteness OF our geographical situa-
ticn or the pacific character of our
"a