THE DOWNWARD PLUNGE OF GERMANY. [To ran EDITOR. OF IMF
“Serararos.”)
Sur,—In last week's issue you Bay truly that "the past fort- night has brought to us an entirely new aet of emotions" in reference to Germany. That once noble nation has plunged itself into what is nearly the lowest depth of degradation, and is denationalizing itself with amazing speed. To adopt and defend practices which are not only barbaric but revoltingly Gruel ; to invent and use the means of slaughtering innocent men, women, and children with excruciating agony, is such a turning of things upside down ae would be fatal to the success of any nation in the pursuit of business, or in scientific research, that it is useless for rational beings to consider or discuss them. But if Germany—sole among the nations of the earth —thus thrusts itself outside of them, with an arrogance that is appalling, is it not proof that it has ceased to be a Nation with which the rest of the world can live and labour P It is not merely sorrow that other countries feel for Germany, nor is it even international rage at her overbearing arrogance. It is the legitimate acorn for an outlaw, or traitorous robber of the good of the world at large. The Germans have out themselves adrift from the humanity and civilization of the race. It is notorious that the methods of warfare which they have originated and developed by the use of the submarine and the torpedo, asphyxiating gases in the trenches, and even the Zeppelin and aeroplane, are all meant for the ruthless and brutal destruction of humanity.
There cannot be a doubt as to the result of this procedure on the Ethics of the Future. If it is persisted in and spreads —adopted by other lands—the moral belief and practice of the vast majority of the civilized world will collapse, if they do not become rapidly extinct. They will inevitably wither up, so soon as armed might is recognized as the ultimate right, either for the individual or the nation. But this is not only the abolition of the Christian ethic, it is putting in its place the worst kind of brutality that the human race has ever known.
As Canon Rawnsley put it well in addressing the Convoca- tion of York "In pursuit of her ends Germany has narcotized the spirituality of her being." Again: "The belief in might as right has chloroformed the people, and dragged even the Socialist organizations of Germany at the wheels of this Juggernaut." But it is the inevitable outcome and result
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