After wading through the oceans of casuistry by which German
“Professors” and others have sought to exonerate Germany for the
violation of Belgian neutrality and for the appalling crimes of
Louvain, Visé, and the “Lusitania,” one is no nearer comprehending that
“attitude of mind” which is exemplified by the question of the German
Anti-Bellicist, and of the German apostles of “Kultur” in general.
It is not sheer muddleheadedness, but has been brought about by a
calculated, immoral perversion of intellect.
It is an attitude of mind that is lost to a sense of humour--the
absence of which indeed is a German national characteristic. And there
is nothing more deadening as regards the finer subtleties of life and
conscience. “The saving grace of humour” is a phrase containing a
crystallisation, of an idea of far greater moment than appears on the
surface.
What thousands of German so-called “Anti-Bellicists” are saying and
will continue to say is, as Raemaekers’ cartoon suggests, “We think we
hate War, but we know we covet our neighbour’s vineyard, and having
seized it mean to keep it if we can.”