LETTERS TO THE EDITOR.
ENGLAND AND GERMANY—SUGGESTIONS MADE BY A GERMAN.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE "SPECTATOR."]
SIR,—The English Press, with few exceptions, has for some time past, in treating German affairs, pursued a line of conduct much regretted in Germany, and likely, if persevered in, to cloud those kindly feelings which for their mutual interest should uninter- ruptedly bind two kindred nations. What is the cause of it? Germany, a civilised country, whilst fully appreciating the bless- ings of unfettered discussion, regrets the alacrity, the apparent zest evinced by many organs of the English Press, whenever incidents occur likely to prove detrimental to German interests. Germany takes exception to conclusions drawn from wrong pre- mises, objects to reports respecting her intentions derived from equivocal sources, but trusting in English fair-dealing, hopes that truth will finally prevail.
In order to judge correctly and without bias, it is above all requi- site not to breathe constantly the same political atmosphere; we opine that wrong impressions, necessarily causing erroneous com- ments, might more frequently be avoided, were writers on political subjects to study carefully the character of foreign institutions, and of foreigners, by personal investigation and intercourse, for nothing is more calculated to banish deeply-rooted prejudices, and promote kindly feelings between nations, than the study of things at close quarters, and on the spot.
Germany, we regret to say, is just now the best-distrusted country in the world. All her movements are eagerly watched, scrutinised, suspected, misrepresented ; in fact, we witness the strange spectahle of seeing the most peaceful, industrious, thrifty, domesticated people held up to the world as being the most am- bitious, the most warlike. What have we done to be thus misrepre- sented? Surely England has no cause to suspect her old, long- tried, ever-faithful ally. Did Germany's success operate the change? Would Germany's weakness be England's strength ? Would a strongly-united Germany be a challenge to civilisation, morality, or progress ? Thank Heaven, we are united! Unjustly, wantonly
provoked, we met, overcame, chastised aggressive France ; we retook the two provinces, primarily ours, wrested from us by fraud and violence, and subsequently used by France, on twenty occasions, as a convenient starting-point to attack Germany, and to spread desolation, death, and mourning throughout her fields and cities. Surely, the retribution was only commensurate with the guilt. Nations are the best judges of their interests, and we apprehend that any people jealous of its security would, after so dire an experience, have acted as we did. Germany, neither warlike nor aggressive, must, owing to her vulner- able position, and mindful of the past, be watchful, pre- pared, and strong. Would to Heaven we were, like the tight little island, girded all around by those whitened rocks, whose foot spurns "back the ocean's roaring tide 1" But we are not, and hence the absolute necessity of keeping our powder dry and our horses saddled, for France projects a war of revenge ; a most unjustifiable intention, for revenge, if excusable at all— which we deny, on moral grounds—should be exercised for a wrong received, not for a wrong, as in our ease, inflicted on others. Germany, we repeat it, is just now, by some secret, mis- chievous agency, systematically calumniated. Did not quite recently a mere friendly remonstrance made to a friendly Power, whose neutrality Germany is bound to respect, both by treaty and self-interest, give rise to the most unfounded accusations, eagerly flashed by the electric wire all over Europe, and then as rapidly refuted when calumny, of which semper aliquid hzret, had done its work ? Surely Germany must be excused for not interpreting the hasty, ill-digested remarks indulged in on that occasion by many organs of the English Press as evidences of a kindly feeling towards her.
We shallforget it, but we venture to say to England,—Far better for you to lean on a sturdy oak which stood the test of many a storm, than to rely on an ever-shifting reed. Let us, in the interest of morality, mental culture, and civilisation, promote and foster steadily the growth of the noble tree, the Saxon tree, so deeply rooted also in the British soil, so that when one day its far- spreading branches are entwined, future generations may bask under its holy shade in peace, concord, and prosperity.—I am, Sir, &c.,
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