onymous scribblers,
or the opinion of party politicians; it is the deliberate, reasoned
opinion of some of the most distinguished German readers in thought
and action. Statesmen and diplomats, captains of industry and army
captains, editors and financiers, all the professions except the
Church (a significant omission!), are represented in this survey of
German opinion. After reading M. Bourdon's book, no politician will
henceforth be allowed to plead as an excuse that he does not know what
official and unofficial Germany thinks, and what she feels on the
vital questions of foreign policy.

IV.

And perhaps the readers may carry away the impression that Germany
feels more than she thinks; that she is carried away by prejudice, by
currents and cross-currents of emotion, rather than led by general
principles and clear and sober thinking. I had asked one of the most
eminent British publicists living to write an introduction to the
English translation of M. Bourdon's book which is to be published next
month by Messrs. Dent. But my friend answered that he would willingly
have written such an introduction if he could have agreed with the
ideas of the French writer. Unfortunately, he did not see his way to
agree with Monsieur Bourdon. No purpose, he argued, could be served by
cross-examining German opinion, for there was no German opinion. In
vain did Monsieur Bourdon claim to tell us what Germany thinks; the
Germans were not educated to think politically. And there was the rub.
There was no organized public opinion, and even if there were, it
could only express itself, it could not press its demands upon a
despotic Government.

V.

I do not here examine how much truth there may be in my friend's
contention. But one fact must certainly strike the readers of M.
Bourdon's book. The present position is as ominous as it is
bewildering and unintelligible.

Monsieur Bourdon has proved once more the tremendous power of German
militarism. German militarism seems to be bred in the bone of the
Prussians, and has been inoculated into the German people. The army is
the most popular service in the country. It provides an honourable
career to tens of thousands of young men of the middle classes and of
the aristocracy. At the same time, Monsieur Bourdon points out that
from the German point of view it is one thing to be militarist, and
another to be warlike and bellicose. The Germans hold that the most
confirmed militarist may be