Treitschke is a
heavy-footed historian who raised the axiom of self-preservation into a
philosophy of force. Von Bernhardi's book, though extreme in its
expression, is based on the fundamental truth that if Germany desired a
just proportion of oversea territories (a proportion denied her by
England) she would have to gain it by force of arms. In the development
of this idea he makes many generalizations calculated to dazzle the
multitude and to imbue it with the courage to expansion. Treitschke
would have rested in obscurity but for the war; Bernhardi does not
pretend to talents as a philosopher.
The real origin of Germany's policy in the last forty years may be
derived from the eminently practical and direct mind of Bismarck. From
reading of history he learned that chicane and force had been utilized
as the roads to power, of which fact he found ample demonstration in the
histories of England and Russia. He proved himself a true adept by using
chicane and force to achieve German unity, after the theorists had
failed.
Those who glibly condemn a lyric philosopher in order to make out a case
against Germany reveal the weakness of their position.
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