The Robesonian., 1918-01-14
The GERMAN IDEALS OF AUT0CRACY
fRv President Jacob Gould Schurman Cornell University

It was a great German philosopher
of the eighteenth century who declar-
ed that the fundamental principle OF
morality was that the personality OF
every individual is entitled to rever-
ence. / do not know whether the Ger
mans of today in their code of indl-
vidual morality pay any regard to the
teachings of Immanual Kant. Wheth-
er they do or not, they are certainly
blind to the political ideal which CIV
ilized peoples and especially democra-
cies have in modern times come to re-
alize and accept. l mean the doctrine
that each individual sovereign state
must be recognized by every other as
having equal rights with itself. 1t
has been said, and l think with truth
that in this great world war Germany
is playing the part of nation which
has run amuck. The fundamental ex-
PLANTATION of her alterations, of her re-
pudiation of right and law, of the pit
less and murderous warfare she has
waged, is her refusal to recognize the
equal individuality of other nations
and the limits to conduct set by reel
procal obligations between them.
America is fighting for the equal
rights of civilized states. Looking at
the matter from another point of view
we may say America is fighting
against German domination. Germany
has proclaimed equally in practice and
in theory that the world is her oyster
and she will open it. But the other
nations of the world decline the role
of remaining mere inert material for
absorption or domination by Germany.
Anyone who has followed European
diplomacy since the Franco-Prussian
war, and especially since the twenti-
eth century opened, will be impressed
with the evidence on every side Of
Germany's intention to dictate to Eu-
rore. Her great military power in
spired fear, and the dread of general
war generally brought about conces-
sions in her favor. This is the way in
which she aided Austria Hungary in
the annexation of Bosnit and Herze-
govina, and this is the way in which
in 1914 she thought to bring about the
subjection of Serbia, thus opening up
a road direct from Berlin through Bel
grade to Constantionple and Bagdad.
This time, however, Russia felt her in
terests in the Balkans too vital to be
ignored, and Germany's final step in
the plan to establish her ascendency
in mid-Europe precipitated the world
war. The German government claims
that it endeavored to avoid war, and
It is probably general belief among
the German people that the emperor
was in 1914 averse to war. Men and
governments must, however, be judg-
ed not by their sayings but by thei1
actions. And the gravamen Of the
Indictment against Germany is thai
even if she wished to avoid war, tle
one condition on which she was will
ing to preserve peace was that she
snould Re allowed to dictate to The
other nations Of Europe the condition.
on which that reace could be main
tai1ed. TIE rredowinance OF Germany
in Europe means the predoninance o:
Germany in the world. Once attained
no nation in Europe, Asia, or Americ;
would be immune from the aggres
sions of such exorbitant and lawles
power. We Americans have joined il
the fight against German domination
The issue at stake is, indeed, the sc
curity of our republic, but it is no les
the security of every other nation i
the world.
The supreme condition on which tn
United States and the European pow
ers who are waging war against Ger
many can consent to peace is the thor
ough defeat of Germany. She mus
be compelled to evacuate northeaster
France, Belgium, and the other allie
territories which her military force
now occupy. The rectification of tn
war map OF Europe i. the ,n5eras. {
the Allies is the first task to whic
they must address themselves, an
there can be 10 peace worth Willie ur
til that task has been accomplishe,
War is an appeal to arms. The fir:
business of the United States and he
European allies is to overcome II
military power of Germany and he
confederates.
The second condition of peace is
put the submarine out of business ,
an instrumentality of war. The sui
marine can not be used in war witt
and principles which Christian civil