Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-09-13
Europe's Political Future

u NAAOSA ~
of the proletariat. A further increase
in their numbers must be expected as
a result Of the present economic crisis
from which Germany today Is suHerlng
severely
1t is against the encroachment OF THIS
DANGEROUS mass movement, which =
subiectivelv and Collectively laccoIolns
TO the will of it's lcaderD opposed 10
reason, that the present emergency
dictatorship is directed. If the Social
Democrats have made many concessions
to this dictatorship and have agreed to
the temporary suspension OF democratic
principles. they have done so only be-
cause they realized that this Dictator
ship was the means of avertlng some
thing far worse
There is no doubt whatever that
German socialism. which also repre-
sents and defends democracy. has SUI
fered and will continue to suffer heavy
secessionS TO the Hitler party. The ex-
PLANTATION lies in the latter's methods OF
propaganda. which are suited to the
hyper-democratic spirit of the times.
and their appeal to the masses who are
insensible to all but the crudest and
most blatant appeals. Symbolism and
primitive emotionalism are resorted To,
and like a horde of savages, the masses
react.
ScOrns National Socialists.
nevertheless am convinced that
there is no reason TO fear the National
Socialist movement, even though 1t may
not yet have passed the peak Of its de-
velopment Germany will never perma-
nently succumb TO it. The future will
see a development along Social-Demo-
cratic lines. The intellectual founda-
ton of National-Socialism is far too
weak for it TO be regarded as a vital
historical movement. 1t is a Colossus
with feet of clay. 1t resembles a gil
gRntic mushroom with hardly any roots
in the soil. 1t will disappear as rapidly
as it has grown
Social is movement of
long and legitimate intellectual tradi-
tons which has penetrated from Marx
through Hegel into German idealistic
philosophy. whereas National-Socialism
despite the efforts of its theorists to
juggle with PHILOSOPHERS and endow it
with an intellectual basis. has produced
nothing but Grass and ridiculous dilet-
tantism. 1t is only necessary to COM
pare the standard works of Socialism
with those of National-Socialism. l. e.
'Das Kapltal" by Marx. which is a
truly epoch-making work, and MY
Life" by Adolphe Hitler, piece Of lit
erary gibberish. in order to understand
the difference between the respective
levels of these two movements.
The economic theories of National
Socialism which, as its leaders I'M
doubtedly know. will not hold water:
its anti-Semitism. which owes its origin
partly to fable and partly to the basest
human instincts; the insincerity of their
socialism, which does not prevent them
from being financed by big business
capitalists; the corruptneSs of its lead
erS, with their palatial headquarters and
$4,000 motor cars; and last but not
least. quarrels in their own camp and
dlscord within the party-all these
Things have considerably lowered Ma
tlonal- Socialism in the estimation of
even the moderately intelligent, though
the party may still continue to attract
the foolish
l think that it is not too bold of me
TO prophesy that these things will ulti-
mately destroy National-Socialism. Par
tlcuIarly in respect to political prob
lens and the future of Europe. the usual
division of humanity into optimists and
pessImlsts is thoroughly wrong. These
TWO contrasts may form integral parts
OF one ana the same system of thought
and conduct.
Extremes Combined.
1t is, as matter of fact, a character
lStlcally European habit to combine
these two extremes. In his book RE
CARDS sur lie Monde Actuel," Paul Val
cry, prominent French poet, remarks.
Inc most pessimiStic view of hu-
mainly, of life and the value of life is
compatible with the actions and the
optimism which such view demands"
Ihat Is the synthesis have in mind
1t Is possible to entertain the gloomiest
thoughts about man and his lot on
earth. and yet act and falkland talk is
also kind of action--as though one
believed in the possibility of a better
future.
Europes fate is more uncertain to-
day than ever before, and pessimism in
this respect is thoroughly justified. An
other war is not at all out of the cues
ton, though the devastating effect of
war has been demonstrated frequently
enough. 1t is the duty of every think |
ing man and woman today to reason
problems out instead of encouraging
people in their passions and incittne ;;
them to discard reason by the glorifica-
ton of mock heroicS With MANY
people pacif1sm has a bad name and q
musty smell. They connect with the
conception of pacif1sm soppy idealism
and a rationalism lacking in vital
depth. Intellectuals are particularly
sensitive to such a reproach.
This popular view about pacifism is
erroneous. One need not be an intel
lectual vegetarian or a soppy dreamer
to believe in pacifism. One NAV even
be a poet-that is to say, a man of
intellectual adventure, a dreamer Of
dreams-yet put in a word for a sane
rationalism where the fate of the world
is concerned. That is why I am
pacifist. For it is generally agreed that
peace and a far-reaching political and
economic consolidation are the only
means of saving European civilization
from destruction. In spite of all the
adverse factors, still think we have
reason to be hopeful
The psychological consequences OF the