[Footnote 72:  These sentiments did not occur to this journalist when Germany began a ruthless war of invasion on Belgium.—­Author.]

[Footnote 73:  A phrase of contempt employed by the Kaiser when speaking of the Social Democrats in 1889, and which became proverbial.]

“Whatever our opponents have done to us, at this moment we all feel the duty to fight against Russian knout-rule.  Our women and children shall not be sacrificed to Russian bestiality, nor the German people become a booty for the Cossacks.” Die Volksstimme (Chemnitz), August 2nd.

It is possible that even at the end of the war no explanation will be forthcoming for this astounding change of attitude.  Some have suggested that the Russian or Slavonic danger caused it.  Yet just these journals, and this party, had maintained, so long as any degree of free speech was permitted, that Austria had provoked the danger, and they were fully aware that the German Government had from first to last approved of and openly assisted in provoking, nay challenging, Russia on a question which involved the latter’s prestige and diplomatic existence.

Bethmann-Hollweg gave the alleged Russian mobilization as the immediate cause of the war, but doubtless the Social Democrats knew full well that for several days before Russia’s mobilization was announced, Germany had been secretly mobilizing her army.  From July 26th till July 30th German papers contained many reports that Russia was mobilizing; they may have been true or not, but the diplomatic correspondence published by Austria and discussed on page 63 shows conclusively that the Central Powers were baiting Russia into taking that step, and when the greatest Slavonic power had made the desired move, Germany replied with an ultimatum which brought about the war, so ardently desired by the great majority of Germany’s warlike tribes.

Britishers who sympathize with German Social Democracy may advance the plea:  If Germany’s military preparations were secret, how could the Social Democrats know of these proceedings?  The answer is direct and simple:  Every individual Social Democrat—­and men, women, and children, they number some twenty millions—­has for years past been a spy and informer in the interests of the Umsturzpartei (overthrow-party).  All the happenings of the workshop, barracks, farmyard, shop and office have been systematically reported to the local Press, and local committees of the Democratic Party; the ammunitions thus obtained have been just as systematically employed to fire insidious paragraphs and Press articles at governments, local authorities, employers, officers, and even the employers of servant-girls.  Of late years it has been dangerous to have a difference even with a maid-servant; a few days later the inevitable insidious, anonymous attack would certainly appear in one or other of the S.D. journals.