There is an order of minds that intuitively distrusts Science, detracts
from the force of her achievements, and contends that devotion to
machinery ends by making men machines. Many who argue thus have
fastened on Germany’s new war inventions as proof that Science makes
for materialism and opposes the higher values of humanity and culture.
This is special pleading, for against the destructive forces discovered
and liberated by German chemists in this war, one has only to consider
the vast amelioration of human life for which modern science has to be
thanked. Because art has been created to evil purpose, shall we condemn
pictures, or statues? Because the Germans have employed gas poisons in
warfare, are we to condemn the incalculable gifts of organic chemistry?
Look at the eye of Louis Raemaekers’ snake. That is the answer. It is
the force behind this application of it that has brought German Science
to shame. A precious branch of human knowledge has been prostituted
by lust of blood and greed of gain until Science, in common with all
learning, comes simply to be regarded by the masters of Germany as one
more weapon in the armoury, one more power to help win “The Day.” Every
culture is treated in their alembic for the same purpose.
We may picture the series of experiments that went to perfection
of their poison gas; we may see their Higher Command watching the
death of guinea-pig, rabbit, and ape with increasing excitement
and enthusiasm as the hideous effects of their discovery became
apparent. Be sure an iron cross quickly hung over the iron heart that
conceived and developed this filthy arm; for does it not offer the
essence--quintessence of all “frightfulness”? Does it not challenge
every human nerve-centre by its horror? Does it not, once proclaimed,
by anticipation awake those very emotions of dread and dismay that make
the stroke more fatal when it falls?
These people pictured their snake paralysing the enemy into frozen
impotence; the floundering Prussian psychology that cuts blocks
with a razor and regards German mind as the measure of all mind,
anticipated that poison gas would appeal to British and French as it
had appealed to them. But it was not so. Their foresight gave them an
initial success in the field; it slew a handful of men with additions
of unspeakable agony--and rekindled the execration and contempt of
Civilisation.
As an arm, poison gas cannot be considered conspicuously successful,
since it is easily countered; but for the Allies it had some value,
since it weighted appreciably the scale against Germany in neutral
minds and added to the universal loathing astir at the heart of the
world. Only fear now holds any kingdom neutral: there is not an
impartial nation left on earth.