And just because the German Emperor is pleased, amongst the innumerable costumes of his wardrobe, to don that of a socialist sovereign, the same people who before 1870 believed in the liberalism of Bismarck, now believe in the socialism of William II.  They go on saying the same old things.  In different words they ask:  “Isn’t the young Emperor amusing?” (tis’ a great word with us French people), and before long, they will be appealing to the gullible weaklings among us by suggesting “After all, why shouldn’t he give us back Alsace-Lorraine?” And thus are being sown the seeds of our national enervation.

The dangers that threaten us from the hatred that the Prussian bears us are all the greater now that Germany is ruled by this man-chameleon.  Let William do what he will, let him change colour as he likes, our hatred for Prussia remains unshaken and immutable.  But acquiescence in his performances will draw us into his orbit and expose us to those same dangers which he incurs, dangers which, were we wise, we should know how to turn to our own profit.

May 12, 1890. [4]

Amidst the ruins of his fallen fortunes, Bismarck can still erect a magnificent monument to his pride.  If the results pursued by his once-beloved pupil stultify the old man’s immediate intentions, they constitute nevertheless a testimonial to the Bismarckian doctrine in its purest form, to those immortal principles based on lies and the exploitation of “human stupidity,” which the ex-Chancellor raised to such heights in German policy, from the commencement of his career to the date of his fall.

Let us, in the first place, inquire how it has come to pass that William II has been able to convince a certain number of people, either through their “human stupidity” or their cowardice, that he is striving for and towards peace, when every single act of his proves the opposite.  Is it enough that, because he declares himself a pacifist, men should go about saying “Thank God that he, who seemed most eager for war, now sings the praises of peace”?  And there are others who earnestly implore us to think no more or war “now that William of Germany no longer dreams of it.”

Now I ask, is there a single reason to be found, either in the tradition of his race, or in his own character, or in the logic of Prussian militarism, which can justify any clear-thinking mind in believing that William is a pacifist?

During the past fortnight a pamphlet has been published in Germany under the title Videant Consules (a pamphlet having all the appearance of a Berlin semi-official, or officious, document) which gives us the key (my readers will agree that I have already placed it in the lock) of William II’s sudden affection for paths of peace.