New York Times Current History: The European War, Vol 2, No. 1, April, 1915: April-September, 1915Various
History
New York Times Current History: The European War, Vol 2, No. 1, April, 1915: April-September, 1915
Various
World War, 1914-1918
After the dismissal of Prince Bismarck by the present Kaiser,
Harden not only saw, but constantly and audaciously
criticised, the weaknesses in the character of the Emperor.
For this dangerous undertaking he was three times brought to
trial for lèse majesté, and spent a year as a prisoner in a
Prussian fortress. In 1907 he figured in a libel suit brought
by General Kuno von Moltke, late Military Governor of Berlin,
who, together with Count Zu Eulenburg and Count Wilhelm von
Hohenau, one of the Emperor's Adjutants, had been mentioned by
Harden in his paper as members of the so-called Camarilla or
"Round Table" that sought to influence the Emperor's political
actions by subtle manipulations. He was sentenced to four
months' imprisonment, but appealed the case, and was let off
two years later with a fine of $150.
In recently publishing the German article which is herewith
translated the German New Vorker Revue carefully disclaimed
any agreement with the sentiments therein expressed by Harden,
which, it pointed out, must be regarded only as typical of
German public opinion as is George Bernard Shaw of public
opinion in England.
The scorners of war, the blonde, black, and gray children who have been
defiling his name with syrupy tongues of lofty humanity and with
slanderous scoldings, all have become silent. Or else they snort
soldiers' songs; annihilate in confused little essays the allied powers
arrayed against us; entreat a civilized world (Kulturwelt) juggling for
mere turkey heads, to please grant us permission to do heavy and cruel
deeds, to wage fierce and headlong war! Already they seem prepared to
answer absolutely and unqualifiedly in the affirmative Luther's question
whether "men of war also can be considered in a state of grace."
They write and talk much about the great scourge of war. That is all
quite true. But we should also bear in mind how much greater is the
scourge which is fended off by war. The sum and substance of the matter
is this: In looking upon the office of war one must not consider how it
strangles, burns, destroys. For that is what the simple eyes of children
do which do not further watch the surgeon when he chops off a hand or
saws off a leg; which do not see or perceive that it is a matter of
saving the entire body. So we must look upon the office of war and of
the sword with the eyes of men, and understand why it strangles and why
it wreaks cruel deeds. Then it will justify itself and prove of its own
accord that it is an office divine in itself, and as necessary and
useful to the world as is eating, drinking, or any other work. But that
some there are who abuse the office of war, who strangle and destroy
without need, out of sheer wantonness--that is not the fault of the
office, but of the person. Is there any office, work, or thing so good
that wicked and wanton persons will not abuse it?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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