Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 6.djvu/696

 THEORETICAL AND PRACTICAL NIETZSCHEISM.

PROBABLY no sound thinker entertains the faintest fear of the spread of Friedrich Nietzsche's amazing gospel. The aristocratic and ultra-egoistic elements which distinguish it condemn it to defeat and theoretical oblivion. The policy of "blood and iron" is, alas! too dominant and seemingly successful in inter- national relations to warrant strong hopes of an early triumph of the principles which received lip-homage at The Hague ; but murder, devastation, and burglary between nations are one thing, and the elimination of all moral restraints within a given body politic is, even under our ethical standards, quite a different thing. To justify unnecessary, and consequently criminal, wars appeals are made to "the survival of the fittest," to the inevitable struggle for supremacy, and even to manifest destiny. The world-concert has just demonstrated anew that contemporary diplomacy is still following the rules laid down by Machiavelli for his Prince. In the settlement of the far-eastern problem nothing has been clearer than the ready assumption of most of the powers that truth, good faith, and consistency are "words, words, words," rather than realities to be relied upon. The most solemn promise, the most explicit assurance, did not pre- vent suspicions of double dealing and arriere penste. Honesty and obedience to the moral law in international intercourse to say nothing of altruism and brotherhood may still be consid- ered an iridescent dream.

But the modern mind revolts against the suggestion of applying the blood-and-iron policy in internal, national rela- tions. Nietzscheism is neither more nor less than Bismarckism universalized. It may be summed up in a few phrases : There is no morality ; consequently no evil to be avoided or repro- bated. There is no duty of justice, humanity, or charity toward one's fellow-men. Why should we refrain from doing that unto others which we would not have done unto us ? Why, to take Kant's expression of the "universal law of right," should you

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