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the four horsemen of the apocalypse-第31章

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they were their own 。 。 。 that was all!  And side by side with such patient laboriosity; really worthy of respectwhat charlatanism!  What great names exploited as a shop sample!  How many sages turned into proprietors of sanatoriums! 。 。 。  A Herr Professor discovers the cure of tuberculosis; and the tubercular keep on dying as before。  Another labels with a number the invincible remedy for the most unconfessable of diseases; and the genital scourge continues afflicting the world。  And all these errors were representing great fortunes; each saving panacea bringing into existence an industrial corporation selling its products at high pricesas though suffering were a privilege of the rich。  How different from the bluff Pasteur and other clever men of the inferior races who have given their discoveries to the world without stooping to form monopolies!

〃German science;〃 continued Tchernoff; 〃has given much to humanity; I admit that; but the science of other nations has done as much。 Only a nation puffed up with conceit could imagine that it has done everything for civilization; and the others nothing。 。 。 。  Apart from their learned specialists; what genius has been produced in our day by this Germany which believes itself so transcendent?  Wagner; the last of the romanticists; closes an epoch and belongs to the past。  Nietzsche took pains to proclaim his Polish origin and abominated Germany; a country; according to him; of middle…class pedants。  His Slavism was so pronounced that he even prophesied the overthrow of the Prussians by the Slavs。 。 。 。  And there are others。  We; although a savage people; have given the world of modern times an admirable moral grandeur。  Tolstoi and Dostoievsky are world…geniuses。  What names can the Germany of William II put ahead of these? 。 。 。  His country was the country of music; but the Russian musicians of to…day are more original than the mere followers of Wagner; the copyists who take refuge in orchestral exasperations in order to hide their mediocrity。 。 。 。  In its time of stress the German nation had men of genius; before Pan…Germanism had been born; when the Empire did not exist。  Goethe; Schiller; Beethoven were subjects of little principalities。  They received influence from other countries and contributed their share to the universal civilization like citizens of the world; without insisting that the world should; therefore; become Germanized。〃

Czarism had committed atrocities。  Tchernoff knew that by experience; and did not need the Germans to assure him of it。  But all the illustrious classes of Russia were enemies of that tyranny and were protesting against it。  Where in Germany were the intellectual enemies of Prussian Czarism?  They were either holding their peace; or breaking forth into adulation of the anointed of the Lorda musician and comedian like Nero; of a sharp and superficial intelligence; who believed that by merely skimming through anything he knew it all。  Eager to strike a spectacular pose in history; he had finally afflicted the world with the greatest of calamities。

〃Why must the tyranny that weighs upon my country necessarily be Russian?  The worst Czars were imitators of Prussia。  Every time that the Russian people of our day have attempted to revindicate their rights; the reactionaries have used the Kaiser as a threat; proclaiming that he would come to their aid。  One…half of the Russian aristocracy is German; the functionaries who advise and support despotism are Germans; German; too; are the generals who have distinguished themselves by massacring the people; German are the officials who undertake to punish the laborers' strikes and the rebellion of their allies。  The reactionary Slav is brutal; but he has the fine sensibility of a race in which many princes have become Nihilists。  He raises the lash with facility; but then he repents and oftentimes weeps。  I have seen Russian officials kill themselves rather than march against the people; or through remorse for slaughter committed。  The German in the service of the Czar feels no scruples; nor laments his conduct。  He kills coldly; with the minuteness and exactitude with which he does everything。  The Russian is a barbarian who strikes and regrets; German civilization shoots without hesitation。  Our Slav Czar; in a humanitarian dream; favored the Utopian idea of universal peace; organizing the Conference of The Hague。  The Kaiser of culture; meanwhile; has been working years and years in the erection and establishment of a destructive organ of an immensity heretofore unknown; in order to crush all Europe。  The Russian is a humble Christian; socialistic; democratic; thirsting for justice; the German prides himself upon his Christianity; but is an idolator like the German of other centuries。  His religion loves blood and maintains castes; his true worship is that of Odin;only that nowadays; the god of slaughter has changed his name and calls himself; 'The State'!〃

Tchernoff paused an instantperhaps in order to increase the wonder of his companionsand then said with simplicity:

〃I am a Christian。〃

Argensola; who already knew the ideas and history of the Russian; started with astonishment; and Julio persisted in his suspicion; 〃Surely Tchernoff is drunk。〃

〃It is true;〃 declared the Russian earnestly; 〃that I do not worry about God; nor do I believe in dogmas; but my soul is Christian as is that of all revolutionists。  The philosophy of modern democracy is lay Christianity。  We Socialists love the humble; the needy; the weak。  We defend their 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 earthbut 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 Germanthe 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 personal use a second Jehovah; a divinity hostile to the greater part of the human race who makes his own the grudges and ambitions of the German people。〃

Tchernoff then explained in his own way the creation of this Teutonic God; ambitious; cruel and vengeful。  The Germans were comparatively recent Christians。  Their Christianity was not more than six centuries old。  When the Crusades were drawing to a close; the Prussians were still living in paganism。  Pride of race; impelling them to war; had revived these dead divinities。  The God of the Gospel was now adorned by the Germans with lance and shield like the old Teutonic god who was a military chief。

〃Christianity in Berlin wears helmet and riding boots。  God at this moment is seeing Himself mobilized the same as Otto; Fritz and Franz; in order to punish the enemies of His chosen people。  That the Lord has commanded; 'Thou shalt not kill;' and His Son has said to the world; 'Blessed are the peacemakers;' no longer matters。 Christianity; according to its German priests of all creeds; can only influence the individual betterment of mankind; and should not mix itself in affairs of state。  The Prussian God of the State is 'the old German God;' the lineal descendant of the ferocious Germanic m
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