World War, 1914-1918; World War, 1914-1918 -- Influence; World War, 1914-1918 -- Peace
The present dangers which must be eliminated somehow lest we all
stagger on to catastrophe are of three kinds: racial, social, and
economic. The last indeed is of such overwhelming influence upon racial
rivalries and social upheavals, that many students of modern history
are inclined to believe that it is the underlying meaning of all wars,
revolutions, and human struggles. The pressure of population, the need
of food, the desire to get raw material for industrial manufactures,
national competition to capture trade markets, are, according to the
modern school of thought, the main causes of international friction
and explosive episodes.
I agree as to the terrific importance of economic facts, especially in
this present time of history, when the world has been industrialised,
but there are other instincts in the human heart beyond the need of
food, other passions besides trade rivalry. The passion of race is one
of them. The passion of liberty for the race or nation is intense.
National pride, sentiment expressed in symbols, such as the Flag,
religious fanaticism, such as that of Islam, set human hearts on fire
and make them careless even of self interest or self preservation.
Before looking at the economic struggle which is looming ahead, and in
my opinion is going to be a possible cause of another world conflict,
one may see signs of racial passion stirring in many parts of the world
and threatening its future peace.
RACIAL PASSIONS
It is in the very heart of Europe. Certainly the majority of the German
people refuse stubbornly to accept the consequences of the defeat
inflicted upon them as more than a temporary check to their strength
and supremacy among civilised people. They are so conscious of their
own genius in organisation and industry, so confident in the future
destiny of the German folk, so sure that their increasing population
is bound to prevail over the weaker and dwindling stock of a nation
like France, that they are only waiting for the time when, as they
think, the inevitable laws of history will carry them in a tide over
the present barriers that have been imposed upon them. Meanwhile,
they rage at the humiliations they have to suffer, and brood over
the injustice of their present condition. Their sense of being the
victims of world injustice is a fixed idea or what, in the present
jargon of psycho-analysis, is called a “complex.” It is not less
dangerous for that, and to regain their liberty of action, freedom
from foreign interference with foreign occupation, and release from
immense burdens of foreign debt, there are large numbers of Germans who
would willingly die with a racial patriotism and passion exalted above
all self-interest. Many old women in Germany would like to march with
sharpened scissors behind the German troops. Many young girls would
gladly go with their hatpins to stab a Frenchman or two in revenge for
the Ruhr. Europe will not be safe until that racial hatred between
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