This instruction, given year after year by
teachers, publicists, and rulers, was first generally accepted in
Prussia, but now seems to be accepted by the entire empire as unified in
1871.
The attention of the civilized world was first called to this state of
the German mind and will by the triumphant policies of Bismarck; but
during the reign of the present Emperor the external aggressiveness of
Germany and her passion for world empire have grown to much more
formidable proportions. Although the German Emperor has sometimes played
the part of a peacemaker, he has habitually acted the war lord in both
speech and bearing, and has supported the military caste whenever it has
been assailed. He is by inheritance, conviction, and practice a
Divine-right sovereign whose throne rests on an "invincible" army, an
army conterminous with the nation. In the present tremendous struggle he
carries his subjects with him in a rushing torrent of self-sacrificing
patriotism. Mass fanaticism and infectious enthusiasm seem to have
deprived the leading class in Germany, for the moment, of all power to
see, reason, and judge correctly--no new phenomenon in the world, but
instructive in this case because it points to the grave defect in German
education--the lack of liberty and, therefore, practice in self-control.
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