Abstract

The Germany of Today

Every nation sees foreign nations as types rendered coarse through ignorance and national pride, and with a chauvinism that is often dictated by commercial interests. Speech is not an unconquerable obstacle, a nationalist education is a much more serious one. How does Germany look today seen from without? The American who wants to picture Germany to himself will disregard the average German-American publications, which are not entitled to, and are furthermore incapable of, giving any pertinent account of the new Germany since they know it only superficially, if at all. Germany is overpopulated, and the present anarchy among the states is not calculated to make a government, law abiding in foreign affairs, out of a nation which has always worshiped force. But despite the wild efforts of the militarists, Germany is not preparing a new war, because its business men cannot profit by it at this time. Much more is the German ideal directed toward making as much as possible out of a new war which may be run off between other nations on another stage. Germany constitutes no greater war danger for Europe than any other state that even in this day and generation believes in its absolute sovereignty and is prepared to defend it with force of arms at all times.