in her present mind she will be at war with our
country within a very short time. The young man who has just sat down
assures us that Germany is a great country. Let us at once frankly grant
this fact, for indeed it is a fact. Whether she is as wonderful or
as great as she thinks herself to be may be doubted. But it is of
importance to know that the opinion stated here to-night is the opinion
held by the whole body of the German people from the Kaiser to the
lowest peasant in the Empire. The universal conviction throughout that
Empire is that not only is Germany the greatest nation on earth, but
that it has a divine mission to confer her own peculiar quality of
civilisation upon the other nations of Europe, and indeed upon the whole
world. We might not quarrel with Germany for cherishing this pleasing
opinion in regard to herself, but when this opinion is wrought into a
purpose to dominate the whole world in order that this mission might
be accomplished the thing takes on a somewhat serious aspect. Let me
repeat, Germany is a great nation, marvellously organised in every
department of her life, agricultural, manufacturing, educational,
commercial. But to what intent? What is the purpose dominating this
marvellous organisation? The purpose, Ladies and Gentlemen, is war. The
supreme industry of the German nation is the manufacturing of a mighty
war machine. I challenge the gentleman who has just spoken to deny
either of these statements, that Germany believes that she has a
definite mission to lift up the other nations of Europe to her own high
level and that to fulfil this mission it is necessary that she be in a
position of control." The speaker paused for a moment or two. "He cannot
deny these because he knows they are true. The second thing I wish to
say is that the Kaiser means war and is waiting only for the favourable
moment. I believe it is correct to say that for many years after his
accession to the throne he used his influence on the side of peace, but
I have every reason to believe that for some years past he has cherished
another purpose, the purpose of war."

At this point Switzer sprang to his feet and cried, "I challenge the
truth of that statement. Modern European history proves it to be false,
and again and again the Kaiser has prevented war. So much is this
the case that the trustees of the only European fund that recognises
distinguished service in the interests of peace bestowed upon the Kaiser
the N