April 29, Txose who believe that nothing breeds bad blood like suspicion will see with relief that foreign opinion generally takes the election of Marshal von Hindenburg calmly. One or two New York papers are pessimistic and French opinion is what was to be expected. The antagonism between the Gallic and Germanic peoples is no novelty of the last half century, but as old as recorded history and doubtless older, It is one of the world's greatest problems, and no solution of it as yet appears. But one thing is certain: that other peoples will not improve matters by adding their own bitternesses and mistrust. We do not give way a hairsbreadth in our ¢pinion as. to who was responsible for the war, That question, if such it could even be called, is disposed of for ever by the unanswerable fact that if, in July, 1914, the Kaiser and his Court had' said they would not fight, there would have been no war. But that war was ended nearly seven years ago; Germany was defeated; the Kaiser lost his throne and it is surely time to forget the possible bad elements in the German nature and re: member and appeal to its many excellences.
Moreover, in no offensive sense, the comment of one French paper, that Germany unmasked under jen burg is better than Germany camouflaged under Marx, may express the feelings of a ood many people. In their election addresses, we are told, Dr. Marx pressed for democracy and peaceful development; while Marshal von Hindenburg said that, if elected. he would recognize that Germany had lost the war and must bear the con: sequences, but she could not remain " slave for ever. What does Dr. Marx mean by demoerdey® As generally accepted, it is something with which one finds it impossible to associate the German people; and when we think of all the blunders and absurdities committed in its name, we have not so much) cause to be in love with it as to justify us in wishing to ram it down the throats. On the other band, there does not appear to be anything very terrible in Marshal von Hindenburg's statement. It would be ridiculous to imagine that a populous, proud and virile nation like the Germans will not do their utmost to recover their place in the world and it is surely far wiser to recognize the fact and shape our own policy towards them and towards ourselves accordingly, than to appear to pretend that we can go on keeping them in subjection indefinitely, a course which would seem likely only to hasten and aggravate the ultimate explosion. There is a feeling that in voting for Marshal von Hindenburg, Germany has been truer to herself than if she had elected Dr. Marx; and people who are sincere with themselves are usually easier to deal with than those who play a part. If we try to put ourselves in the Germans' place, we must admit that Marshal yon Hindenburg would <|have appealed to us strongly. Whether or not he was really a great soldier is a matter of opinion. He is certainly ational hero, embody for his! countrymen all that they understand and revere.
He does not appear to think much of the! British.
After some reflexions} fon the policy of ancient Rome, her "clever recognition of the advantages and disadvantages of national peculiarities, her ruth-legs selfishness: which scorned no method of dealing with friend or foe where her own interests ied," he continues, in hit All this, as I was to earn later, found its mirror and perfection in British statesmanship, which succeeded in devel cping all these aspects of th diplomatic art to the highest of refinement and duplie-But this is the sort of thing that makes Englishmen lough: they certainly bear no grudge for it, nor would they be the least disposed to reply that the writer was possibly setting up certain ideals for his own guidance. In point of fact, we de not know of any circumstance suggesting that Marshal von Hindenburg is a man of duplicity of one whose word should not be taken.
That which occasions most! misgiving in his election, is his aye. He had retired from the army four years before the war and must now be well over seventy. Tt also is, perhaps, gnificant that he is reported to fave taken very little part in the presidential campaign. The danger that he may become a tool of unscrupulous men behind him is not to be ignored. Against this, the direct part which a President can play in his country's politics is limited. The late President Ebert's name was very seldom heard in connexion with what Germany was doing. Power has passed to the Reichstag], [which it never possessed in imperial days and, short of a monarchical restoration, which nobody appears to dread, that|<f pewer is likely to increase. Meanwhile, in the Reichstag, for the present the strength of the!;, Left wing is expected fully toto counterbalance whatever wild ideas the Nationalists may cherish. And for the future, one inclines to believe that democratic notions will more and more! permeate the German people. It will not be the democracy of an Independence Day stump speech nor of a Hyde Park orator. The Germans are not by nature disposed to accept the now popula notion that Jack's as good as his master: therein, perhaps, like Horatio, their estate is the more blessed." But one doubts whether they will henceforttr be quite so dui
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.