Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 April 1919 — Defeat Reveals the True Character of the German Nation and People [ARTICLE]

Defeat Reveals the True Character of the German Nation and People

By J. E. LOUGH

Professor of Psychology

From the viewpoint of a psychologist the German mind is showing the same imperfections in defeat which it exhibited so conspicuously, while the war was in active progress. The most striking trait of this character is a lack of moral fiber, which throughout history all nations, like all persons, have looked up to as a supreme attribute. Thb Germans have shown themselves to be merely brutal thugs. The flight of the kaiser is an indication of their type of mind. This man runs away ; he has not the fiber to stand and share in the fate of his people, which he brought about by his own acts. Yet in Germany no one appears to have uttered one word in criticism of the kaiser’s course. The surrender of the German fleet, from the Teutonic viewpoint, was the right thing. They would rather be live cowards than dead heroes. It seems inconsistent that this appalling cowardice should be exhibited by the same people who fought their way into Belgium, France, Serbia, Russia and Roumania. But it is a matter of everyday observation that any cowardly'person will maintain what he may term his courage as long as he is winning. The pretense of a defensive war which the Germans have set up affords another indication of this same mental characteristic. If we grant that the masses of their people believe that the war was defensive we are confronted by the fact that the nation abjectly surrendered before a foot of its territory had been conquered. The lack of Germany’s realization of the wrongs which she has done leaves the world sick at heart. Yet we look in vain for the faintest expression of regret from the Germans for their atrocities. Thb simple reason for this lack is that they do not realize they have dohe anything wrong. 6 ■ Before the war the Germans had pretty well concealed their true national character by making a display of several admirable qualities. The truth has at last burst upon us and there ( is no mistaking it.