The Daily News. THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 1918. THE DOCTRINE OF PRUSSIANISM.

Taranaki Daily News, 20 June 1918, Page 4

The Daily News. THURSDAY, JUNE 20, 1918. THE DOCTRINE OF PRUSSIANISM.

A recent cable throws a direct li?;ht on that marvellous doctrine of Prussianism which is enabling the Germans to go forward, tired but confident, straitened and suffering, but to all outward seeming sure of victory, towards a 'peace which will give them a breathing space to plan the next step in their world-historical mission. The cable states that neutrals who have had the opportunity of studying the conditions in Germany, say that the people are dissatisfied with the results of the offensive, which is far short of what had been promised, so their confidence has received a shock, yet, despite the dearth of food and consequent sufferings, there is no evidence of a general unwillingness to be fed on promises of victory, and the advantages it will assure them, nor is there any faltering in their will to continue the war, even at the price of much suffering, for so long as the offensive holds possibilities of German jSneeess, the economic privations will be cheerfully borne. Apparently, these statements arc based on actual facts, but in order to properly comprehend this peculiar state of feeling, it is necessary to understand the full meaning of the doctrine of Prussianism from a German point of view, and then the spirit that actuates the people will stand revealed. The distinguishing feature of Prussianism is not its successful career oi.' military conquest, that being a result rather than an element. The Prussians are the Romans of the modern world. They are striving to move towards world mastery from similar small beginnings, by similar gradual stages, by a similar combination of force, absorption, law-giving, education and ruthless suppression, and to give the modern world a Roman peace, guaranteed by the iron majesty of Roman laws and Roman arms, is the dream of Prussian idealism. The chief lever of Prussianism is fear, for Prussianism sees chiefly in man a being responsive to fear, while is the spearhead of the Prussian at- \ tack. Fear is the cement of 'iie

Prussian dominion. The children are made to feel it in the classroom, and it darkens their adolescent years. The soldiers know it in the barracks and on the drill ground. The civilian knows it in Iris contact with the soldier and the public official; the South German in his contact with the Prussian, the ally in his contact with the German. The natives of the German colonies know it only too well, so do the inhabitants of the occupied territories, the neutral governments and peoples, the voyagers by sea and dwellers in cities within the reach of Prussia's strong arm. It is her recuring tactics in military, naval and aerial operations, in diplomacy, in internal policy, even in business, where Germany has taught her agents to conceal temporary weakness and embarrasment by spreading legends of inexhaustible reserves of moneypower, and invincible skill in salesmanship and manufacture. Prestige, discipline, demoralisation—prestige for herself, discipline for her servants, and demoralisation for the rest. These in the Prussian conception are the harvest of fear, and hand in hand with this potent weapon of fear has gone the inculcation of knowledge—culture and terrorism ranging the world together. Prussian culture is a State product— State organised and State edited, employed to found or perpetuate a State tradition or to forward a State purpose. It is the armoury whence Prussia draws the weapons of knowledge or opinion wherewith to promote her designs, and whereon the strength of Prussia has depended and still depends—upon the faithful and tireless docility "of her servants and victims. This is exemplified in the cable already referred to. To the true-born Prussian, reliance on terrorism and the cultivation of a sense of arrogant contempt towards other peoples and elans has become a fixed habit. Prussianism is also a doctrine of authority, founded on a sense of the weakness and helplessness of rean in his natural state. It is a r*lic of the primitive age of the cave-dweller when might was right and the weaklings went to the wall. It is a machine for converting human beings into obedient automatons to build up power. No such article as freedom is recognised, except as a danger to be averted at all costs; no such tiling as individual initiative, decision or assent, but complete subservience to revered au- ■ thority as embodied in the holder oE the right to rule by the Divine Right of Kings. Prussianism stands for more than the use of howitzers, super-guns and cannon fodder. It is a creed held, with intense conviction, by men who have had the courage to apply it to every relationship of life. Hence has arisen that arrogant claim of the Kaiser to be the representative of the Deity on earth. This system has surrounded the Kaiser with a body of clever, cunning, fearless retainers among the Junkers, and it is on the basis of their allegiance that the structure of Prussian power has been raised. For the last two centuries the Prussian King and his people Ime preserved this system together, adding province upon pro ■ vince to the original Prussian domain, and now they have plunged the civilised world into the most terrible war of all ages in order to go forward. Belgium, Poland, Courland, Lithuania, Russia, Serbia and other nationalities lie within their grasp. Austria-Hun-pry, Bulgaria and Turkev are their dependents, while covetous eyes are cast on Britain, India, and the overseas Dominions of the British Empire. Their aim is more towards world mastery while the aim of the Allies is fixed on world freedom from this hideous nightmare of Prussianism.