Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-12-17
B0CHE MERE bRUTES
DECLARES SCIENTIST
Qualities Not Suspected in Ad-
miring Minor Values Now
Made Clear to All.

James r Iough. Professor of Pathology.
New York University, In New YORK Ihee.
From the viewpoint of psychologist,
the German mind is showing the same
imperiections IN defeat which IL cxnioited
so consplcuously while the war was IN
active progress We now see that the last
four and a half years have gwen US per
fectlv clear impression OF the German
character in certain aspects
The most striking trait of this character
is a lack of moral fibre. which throughout
history all nations, like all persons, have
looked up to as q supreme attribute. The
Germans have shown themselves to be
merely brutal thugs.
From the broad viewpoint of humanity,
some might have hoped that they would
have continued to fight and defend their
territory. at least until they had lost as
much territory as they took from France
This would have gwen them a chance to
show heroic qualities If they had possessed
them. The appalling evidence of the lack
of the finer moral qualities in practically a
whole people is distinct loss to all of us
as human beings. We cannot escape the
feeling that the human race has been de-
graded by the evidence that In Central
Europe so large proportion of the popula-
ton OF what We call the civilized world is
totally bereft OF this essential virtue.
CANT SEE SELVES As OTHERS SEE THEM.
II is plain that the Germans are un-
able to see themselves as others see them.
Their recent experiences would have had
Christening effect on most peoples, but no
such effect has been visible in them.
The flight of the Kaiser is an indication
of their type of mind. Think Of the NUM-
her of rulers who have died at the heads OF
their armies, making last despemte,
hopeless, but nevertheless heroic stand
But this man runs away; be has not the
fibre to stand and share in the fate of his
people, which he brought about by his
own acts. He Is greatly concsrned that he
shall keep a whole skin and fat purse
Let us suppose that England had been
defeated and that an English King, cor
responding IN his relstIons TO the people
with the Kaiser, bad taken 10 igno-
rninious fight Popular indignation At
his cowsrdice would have known no
bounds Yet, though the censorship has
been removed N Germany, no one there
appears to have uttered one word in
criticism OF the kaisers course. 1t seems
TO them natural, TO US abhorrent.
GERMANS CHAMPION CUTTERS
The Germans are the champion cutters
of all time, and it exoites no special emo
tion In them that the Kaiser has QUIT also
An accepted leader is Of the type of the
people whom he leads. Casxar typified the
spirit Of the Roman citizen OF his day.
Lincoln was always careful not to 20 fast
er than the people followed him.
In the same way the KAISER must be
taken as representing the ideals Of the
great majority of his subjects. He has
been accepted in fact as living exponent
OF German political conceptions. Even in
his fight we are still regretfully forced 10 |
believe he remains the embodiment of |
German character.
GREAT covARpIcr SHOWN
The surrender Of the German feet, |
from The Teutonic viewpoint of selfish |
nexs and good business, was the right |
thing; from the viewpoint Of patriotism |
and nationsi standards, rs We grasp them,
IL shows q Enthusiastically selfish and |
cowardly state of mind. This act has |
been very properly contrasted with the |
course Of the Sraninds at Santiago. With |
the war lost and an er~helmms ai- |
pe-iorltv OF their enemy confronting them |
outside the harbor, Ccrveras men went |
out and boldly gave battle IN manner |
which excited the admiration OF the |
american NAVY and. indeed. of the whole |
world. Tins sacrifice made US all respect |
the Spanish people They stood the test |
OF that last fiery ordeal We arc disposed |
to feel that other Spaniards. IN the same |
situation, would have behaved IN the |
same manner. |
To the Germans, on the other hand, |
such heroism IS foolish. They would rather |
he live towards than dead heroes. Heroisrn |
and self-sacrifice are foolish to any per |
son OF a rnaterlallstIc tnn of rn6nd, and |
this Is cmphatically the German turn of |
mind
To the psychologist not only the az
tions Of a nation. but the peoples view |
points of that action are an Indication of !
mental characteristics. No one IN Ger