Prussian Peace

The question of an inconclusive peace, which shall leave an unrepentant Prussia at the head of an undefeated German race, is now for the first time seriously brought before us. I would ask the reader to regard it in the light of the following considerations. We must first dismiss from our minds altogether a very current notion of making a treaty with the men of Germany. We might as well talk about making a treaty with the horses of Germany. We are dealing with the ambitious and audacious Prussian Monarchy, which has pursued one policy for two centuries. Why the large, blond, bulky, handsome cart-horse of Germany allows itself to be ridden by this beggar on horseback ---or rather, burglar on horseback ---we do not know. But we do know that its subordination is subordination and nothing else: that it is no case of one nation being deputed to represent a race. We do know, for a fact, that Germany no more dreams of directing Prussia than a horse rides on a man. It is not merely that the King of Prussia does not definitely claim to represent the Germans. The King of Prussia definitely refused to represent the Germans. And he refused upon the positive ground that he did not want to represent them because he did want to rule them.