The sun., 1918-07-28
BY GARRETT w. THOMPSON,
Head Professor Of German, University
of Maine.

IN his recent book, deductions From
Il the World War;" Gen. Won Freytag-
Loringhoven, who evidently believes that
the pen vies with the sword in its efficacy
as an instrument Of Kultur, defends Ger
many's barbarous methods Of waging
war. 1t would seem scarcely necessary
that Germany's practices need another
champion, since so many of her leading
thinkers have already come to the fore
with uncanny readiness to vindicate them.
Perhaps, after all, the most useful func-
tion of this volume will be TO bring US
once more face TO face with the sicken-
ing fact that such practices are a regular
part of the German military system.
The facts of German atrocity, the voIu-
minous evidence, the unimpeachable
character of the allied witnesses have
been laid so often before the reading pub
lie that it would seem inexcusable if any
intelligent person is still ignorant Of them.
There can be little doubt that popular re-
vulsion has manifested itself in all quar-
tiers and run the full gamut of moral in
tensity. And yet, after the tide of emo
tional Indignation has subsidized and reason
begins TO seek adequate causes, one query
sticks in the mind of many an honest
American: How can an enlightened mod
ern nation be capable of such unspeak-
able cruelties. 1t is not surprising that
this apparently irrational reversal of hui
man standards should challenge the ere
dulity of patriotic hearts. But this very
incredulity, however flattering it may be
to our national sense Of fairness, has its
dangers, for it indicates how little the
German nature and temperament are I'M
derstaod on this side of the water.
Genius of the Ancient Romans.
Nations have their personality as well
as individuals. The genius of the Roman
people expressed itself in a threefold ca
pacity, for conquest, for organizing the
conquered territory, for consolidating the
organization by a system of laws. The
State was everything; the individual moth
ing. He had no independent existence,
but merged his individuality In that Of
the composite body and became merely q
phase of it. Roman society was thus
held together by the consciousness of an
organic unity; this consciousness was
shared by each Roman, whose glory it
was to be Roman citizen. There was
nothing greater to which he might aspire;
there was nothing small with which he
could be satisfied. To serve the State,
therefore, was a privilege as well as a
proud symbol of all he hoped to achieve
either collectively or individually.
The Roman mother gIoried in her phys
zeal travail that she might bring forth
sons worthy of the toga they would one
day wear; her sons, prenatally conse-
Grated, wore that toga as the pledge of a
sacred and compelling citizenship. 1t is
thus readily seen that the solidarity Of
the Roman empire was maintained not so
much by external military force as by
the common bond of patriotism whic',
manifested itself as necessary connec-
ton among individuals who had no iden
tity apart from the state.
Early Germans Felt No Bond.
Not 50 the Germans. They felt no
inner bond. suffered no outer compulsion.
Cruel, relentless. vindictive, they were the
primitive champions Of extreme individ-
uaiSm. Many of the carly tribes would
not even endure native king. They
dwelt as independent men; in communl-
ties and together. to be sure, but only by
mutual consent. They knew no control
ling governmental force; were unconscious
of that organic unity which welded the
Romans into so close an or ranization.
To the latter the State was a firmly knit
whole in which the personality of the in
dividual was completely lost. To the
German The State was IA group of indl-