For the most creditable explanation that we can give of the Militarist’s objection to having this matter discussed at all, is the evident impression that such discussion will discourage measures for self-defence; the Militarist does not believe that a people desiring to understand these things and interested in the development of a better European society, can at the same time be determined to resist the use of force.  They believe that unless the people are kept in a blue funk, they will not arm, and that is why it is that the Militarist of the respective countries are for ever talking about our degeneration and the rest.  And the German Militarist is just as angry with the unwarlike qualities of his people as the English Militarist is with ours.

Just note this parallel: 

    BRITISH OPINION ON BRITISH APATHY AND GERMAN VIGOUR.

“There is a way in which Britain is certain to have war and its horrors and calamities; it is this—­by persisting in her present course of unpreparedness, her apathy, unintelligence, and blindness, and in her disregard of the warnings of the most ordinary political insight, as well as of the example of history.

“Now in the year 1912, just as in 1866, and just as in 1870, war will take place the instant the German forces by land and sea are, by their superiority at every point, as certain of victory as anything in human calculation can be made certain.  ’Germany strikes when Germany’s hour has struck.’  That is the time-honoured policy of her Foreign Office.  It is her policy at the present hour, and it is an excellent policy.  It is, or should be, the policy of every nation prepared to play a great part in history.”—­LORD ROBERTS, at Manchester.

“Britain is disunited; Germany is homogeneous.  We are quarrelling about the Lords’ Veto, Home Rule, and a dozen other questions of domestic politics.  We have a Little Navy Party, an Anti-Militarist Party; Germany is unanimous upon the question of naval expansion.”—­MR. BLATCHFORD.

    GERMAN OPINION ON GERMAN APATHY AND BRITISH VIGOUR.

“Whole strata of our nation seem to have lost that ideal enthusiasm which constituted the greatness of its history.  With the increase of wealth they live for the moment, they are incapable of sacrificing the enjoyment of the hour to the service of great conceptions, and close their eyes complacently to the duties of our future and to the pressing problems of international life which await a solution at the present time.”—­GENERAL VON BERNHARDI in “Germany and the Next War.”

    “There is no one German people, no single Germany....  There are more
    abrupt contrasts between Germans and Germans than between Germans
    and Indians.”