Cromwell and Milton are, to the Pan-Germanists, the greatest exponents and exemplars of this heroism. In German estimation they see in the British lack of appreciation of these two great men a sure indication that Britain now exists without ideals and without even the most primitive instinct for heroism.
Believing in war as thus the Pan-Germanists do, it is only consistent with their idea that the war they do believe in should be war in its most absolute and thorough character. It must be ruthless, it must be a fight to the bitter extreme, all useful means being made the most of. So the modern humanitarian limitations of the means of war naturally do not appeal to Germans. They would enter into a fight with the one and only object of succeeding. Anything that would contribute to success would be used; everything that would be likely to diminish the chance of success would be cast on one side. The principle of striking unawares, which is a characteristic mark of Prussian history, exemplifies these views. "He is a fool," said Frederick the Great, "and that nation is a fool who having the power to strike his enemy unawares, does not strike, and strike his deadliest." Even Frederick William the Third, empty and vain as he was, a man whom Napoleon derided as "a tailor among kings," used this same policy in 1813 against Napoleon, and the battle of the nations was the result. Later in the nineteenth century the same policy guided Emperor William the First, and now, in 1914, guides the present Kaiser.
Holding such views as these, one is prepared to learn that Germany has a peculiar scorn of her own for Pacifist nations, and in particular for Britain.
Pacifism does not in the German mind rest upon any solid or even rational basis. It originally started centuries ago merely as a policy, the object of which was to prevent unjust war; provided a war were just, the early Pacifist had no objection to it. But in course of time, as Pacifism progressed, it found in religion a general reason against war. Later on, having discovered that a working theory of Pacifism could not very easily be extracted from religious doctrine and religious history, it evolved the Gospel of Humanity, and, as part of that gospel, declared war against war. Then still later, the period of Cobden being its most important moment, Pacifism found its raison d'etre in the idea that war retarded the free development of industry—industry meaning in particular, manufacturing. And now, close before the commencement of this present great war, great stress in support of the Peace Movement has been laid on general economic considerations. It has been urged that under no circumstances can a war " pay "; conqueror and conquered, both must suffer
