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Various

"New York Times Current History: The European War from the Beginning to March 1915, Vol 1, No. 2 Who Began the War, and Why?"

["Hear, hear!"]
A Philosophy of Blood and Iron.
Have you read the Kaiser's speeches? If you have not a copy I advise you
to buy one; they will soon be out of print, and you will not have many
more of the same sort. [Laughter and applause.] They are full of the
glitter and bluster of German militarism--"mailed fist," and "shining
armor." Poor old mailed fist! Its knuckles are getting a little bruised.
Poor shining armor! The shine is being knocked out of it. [Applause.]
There is the same swagger and boastfulness running through the whole of
the speeches. The extract which was given in The British Weekly this
week is a very remarkable product as an illustration of the spirit we
have to fight. It is the Kaiser's speech to his soldiers on the way to
the front:--
Remember that the German people are the chosen of God. On me, the
German Emperor, the spirit of God has descended. I am His sword,
His weapon, and His viceregent. Woe to the disobedient, and death
to cowards and unbelievers.
Lunacy is always distressing, but sometimes it is dangerous; and when
you get it manifested in the head of the State, and it has become the
policy of a great empire, it is about time that it should be ruthlessly
put away.


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