to recover her lost provinces, she is fighting to recover her self-respect and her national independence; she is fighting to shake off this nightmare that has been on her soul for over a generation, [cheers,] a France with Germany constantly meddling, bullying, and interfering.  And that is what would happen if Russia were trampled upon, France broken, Britain disarmed.  We should be left without any means to defend ourselves.  We might have a navy that would enable us, perhaps, to resent insult from Nicaragua, [laughter,] we might have just enough troops, perhaps, to confront the Mad Mullah—­I mean the African specimen. [Loud laughter.]

Where would the chivalrous country be to step in to protect us as we protected France in 1874?  America?  If countries like Russia and France, with their huge armies, and the most powerful navy in the world could not face this terrible military machine, if it breaks that combination, how can America step in?  It would be more than America can do to defend her own interests on her own continent if Germany is triumphant.  They are more unready than we were.  Ah! but what manner of Germany would we be subordinate to?  There has been a struggle going on in Germany for over thirty years between its best and its worst elements.  It is like that great struggle which is depicted, I think, in one of Wagner’s great operas between the good and the evil spirit for the possession of the man’s soul.  That great struggle has been going on in Germany for thirty or forty years.  At each successive general election the better elements seemed to be getting the upper hand, and I do not mind saying I was one of those who believed they were going to win.  I thought they were going to snatch the soul of Germany—­it is worth saving, it is a great, powerful soul—­I thought they were going to save it.  So a dead military caste said, “We will have none of this,” and they plunged Europe into seas of blood.  Hope was again shattered.  Those worst elements will emerge triumphant out of this war if Germany wins.

What does that mean?  We shall be vassals, not to the best Germany, not to the Germany of sweet songs and inspiring, noble thoughts—­not to the Germany of science consecrated to the service of man, not to the Germany of a virile philosophy that helped to break the shackles of superstition in Europe—­not to that Germany, but to a Germany that talked through the raucous voice of Krupp’s artillery, a Germany that has harnessed science to the chariot of destruction and of death, the Germany of a philosophy of force, violence, and brutality, a Germany that would quench every spark of freedom either in its own land or in any other country in rivers of blood.  I make no apology on a day consecrated to the greatest sacrifice for coming here to preach a holy war against that. [Great cheering.]