smarck, in order to consummate the war with France, the base
of German grandeur, had not hesitated to falsify a telegraphic despatch.

"And remember, that he is the most glorious hero of our time! History
looks leniently upon his heroic feat. Who would accuse the one who
triumphs? . . . Professor Hans Delbruck has written with reason,
'Blessed be the hand that falsified the telegram of Ems!'"

It was convenient to have the war break out immediately, in order that
events might result favorably for Germany, whose enemies are totally
unprepared. Preventive war was recommended by General Bernhardi and
other illustrious patriots. It would be dangerous indeed to defer the
declaration of war until the enemies had fortified themselves so that
they should be the ones to make war. Besides, to the Germans what kind
of deterrents could law and other fictions invented by weak nations
possibly be? . . . No; they had the Power, and Power creates new laws.
If they proved to be the victors, History would not investigate too
closely the means by which they had conquered. It was Germany that was
going to win, and the priests of all cults would finally sanctify with
their chants the blessed war--if it led to triumph.

"We are not making war in order to punish the Servian regicides, nor to
free the Poles, nor the others oppressed by Russia, stopping there in
admiration of our disinterested magnanimity. We wish to wage it because
we are the first people of the earth and should extend our activity over
the entire planet. Germany's hour has sounded. We are going to take
our place as the powerful Mistress of the World, the place which Spain
occupied in former centuries, afterwards France, and England to-day.
What those people accomplished in a struggle of many years we are going
to bring about in four months. The storm-flag of the Empire is now going
to wave over nations and oceans; the sun is going to shine on a great
slaughter. . . .

"Old Rome, sick unto death, called 'barbarians' the Germans who opened
the grave. The world to-day also smells death and will surely call us
barbarians. . . . So be it! When Tangiers and Toulouse, Amberes and
Calais have become submissive to German barbarism . . . then we will
speak further of this matter. We have the power, and who has that
needs neither to hesitate nor to argue. . . . Power! . . . That is the
beautiful word--the only word that rings true and clear. . . . Power!
One sure stab and all argumen