heir right to life and well-being, as did the greatest lights
of the religious world who saw a brother in every unfortunate. We exact
respect for the poor in the name of justice; the others ask for it in
the name of charity. That only separates us. But we strive that
mankind may, by common consent, lead a better life, that the strong may
sacrifice for the weak, the lofty for the lowly, and the world be ruled
by brotherliness, seeking the greatest equality possible."
The Slav reviewed the history of human aspirations. Greek thought had
brought comfort, a sense of well-being on the earth--but only for the
few, for the citizens of the little democracies, for the free men,
leaving the slaves and barbarians who constituted the majority, in their
misery. Christianity, the religion of the lowly, had recognized the
right of happiness for all mankind, but this happiness was placed in
heaven, far from this world, this "vale of tears." The Revolution
and its heirs, the Socialists, were trying to place happiness in the
immediate realities of earth, like the ancients, but making all humanity
participants in it like the Christians.
"Where is the 'Christianity of modern Germany? . . . There is far more
genuine Christian spirit in the fraternal laity of the French Republic,
defender of the weak, than in the religiosity of the conservative
Junkers. Germany has made a god in her own image, believing that she
adores it, but in reality adoring her own image. The German God is a
reflex of the German State which considers war as the first activity of
a nation and the noblest of occupations. Other Christian peoples, when
they have to go to war, feel the contradiction that exists between
their conduct and the teachings of the Gospel, and excuse themselves by
showing the cruel necessity which impels them. Germany declares that war
is acceptable to God. I have heard German sermons proving that Jesus was
in favor of Militarism.
"Teutonic pride, the conviction that its race is providentially destined
to dominate the world, brings into working unity their Protestants,
Catholics and Jews.
"Far above their differences of dogma is that God of the State which
is German--the Warrior God to whom William is probably referring as 'my
worthy Ally.' Religions always tend toward universality. Their aim is to
place humanity in relationship with God, and to sustain these relations
among mankind. Prussia has retrograded to barbarism, creating for its
per
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