ountry is a firm federation of many more or less
different States, containing more or less different peoples; while most
Americans did not approve Bismarck's methods and means, they cordially
approved his accomplishment of German unification; (2) Americans have
felt unqualified admiration for the commercial and financial growth of
Germany during the past forty years, believing it to be primarily the
fruit of well-directed industry and enterprise; (3) all educated
Americans feel strong gratitude to the German Nation for its
extraordinary achievements in letters, science, and education within the
last hundred years. Jealousy of Germany in these matters is absolutely
foreign to American thought, and that any external power or influence
should undertake to restrict or impair German progress in these respects
would seem to all Americans intolerable, and, indeed incredible; (4) all
Americans who have had any experience in Governmental or educational
administration recognize the fact, that German administration--both in
peace and in war--is the most efficient in the world, and for that
efficiency they feel nothing but respect and admiration, unless the
efficiency requires an inexpedient suppression or restriction of
individual liberty; (5) Americans sympathize with a unanimous popular
sentiment in favor of a war which the people believe to be essential to
the greatness, and even the safety, of their country--a sentiment which
prompts to family and property sacrifices very distressing at the
moment, and irremediable in the future; and they believe that the German
people today are inspired by just such an overwhelming sentiment.

How is it, then, that, with all these strong American feelings tending
to make them sympathize with the German people in good times or bad, in
peace or in war, the whole weight of American opinion is on the side of
the Allies in the present war? The reasons are to be found, of course,
in the political and social history of the American people, and in its
Governmental philosophy and practice today. These reasons have come out
of the past, and are intrenched in all the present ideals and practices
of the American Commonwealth. They inevitably lead Americans to object
strongly and irrevocably to certain German national practices of great
moment, practices which are outgrowths of Prussian theories, and
experiences that have come to prevail in Germany during the past hundred
years. In the hope that American p