“This war marks the crisis of this German pride.

“Germany’s course throughout has borne all the earmarks of a national ego-mania.  The whole German people, as a nation, not always, perhaps, as individuals, have fallen victim to the most colossal attack of ego-mania which the world ever has known.

“Combine this ego-mania with another delusion—­the entirely unjustified conclusion that Germany was the object of a worldwide persecution—­and it is unnecessary to search further for the causes of the war, just as it is unnecessary to search further for reasons for the combination of practically all other Europe against Germany.

“What would German victory mean to the world, if German victory came, save the worldwide dominance of German egotism, imposed at the expense of every other people?  France would not escape, England would not escape, and, I assure you, you, America, would not escape.  German victory would be far more than a European disaster—­it would be a world disaster.

“Of all the nations in the world perhaps the United States and France have stood most notably for the ideas of international justice.  This really makes your interest in the outcome of the present war indirectly as great as ours.

“I cannot see how the people of the United States can feel otherwise than that not only their hearts but their reason demands victory for the Allies, not because of any wish for the destruction of Germany, but because of the wish for the preservation of the world.

“Indeed, it is inconceivable that victory for the Allies can mean destruction for Germany.  It can mean only the destruction of German militarism, which has brought about the perversion of the German mind.

“No abler mind exists.  Its release from the thralldom which has fettered it would be a vast world service, would, indeed, be a vast benefit to Germany herself.  It is curious, but true, that I believe Germany’s own salvation depends upon her absolute defeat in this great war.

“A few weeks before the war began Prof.  Schucking expressed regret that Germany—­that is, the German Government—­should be so antagonistic to international spirit.  The fact that he made this expression shows that, in spite of and beyond military Germany, the intellectual elite, the cream of the elite in Germany, has remained faithful to the traditions of the great philosopher, Kant.

“The intellectual elite—­the cream of the elite—­therefore may be absolved from all responsibility.  Loyalty to the teachings of Kant will make it possible for the friends of humanity in all nations to join with Germany for human advancement on the basis of universal justice.

“After the victory of the Allies a new Germany will appear; it will be a liberal Germany, willing to renounce the narrow Prussian ideals, finding again the old German ideal in its disinterested form, a Germany which will be able to join hands with other nations, to help them in taking up again the works of international civilization, which Prussian Germany herself brutally brought to an end, with insolent scorn of right—­an act for which she is now paying and must pay the penalty.”