We cannot afford to lose this factor of preeminence even if many military men—­not only ours but others as well—­believe that today we are superior to our future opponents.  Our own officers believe this to a man, naturally.  Every soldier believes this.  He would almost cease to be a useful soldier if he did not wish for war, and did not believe that we would be victorious in it.  If our opponents by any chance are thinking that we are pacific because we are afraid of how the war may end, they are mightily mistaken.  We believe as firmly in our victory in a just cause as any foreign lieutenant in his garrison, after his third glass of champagne, can believe in his, and we probably do so with greater certainty.  It is not fear, therefore, which makes us pacific, but the consciousness of our strength.  We are strong enough to protect ourselves, even if we should be attacked at a less favorable moment, and we are in a position to let divine providence determine whether a war in the meanwhile may not become unnecessary after all.

I am, therefore, not in favor of any kind of an aggressive war, and if war could result only from our attack—­somebody must kindle a fire, we shall not kindle it.  Neither the consciousness of our strength, which I have described, nor our confidence in our treaties, will prevent us from continuing our former endeavors to preserve peace.  In this we do not permit ourselves to be influenced by annoyances or dislikes.  The threats and insults, and the challenges, which have been made have, no doubt, excited also with us a feeling of irritation, which does not easily happen with Germans, for they are less prone to national hatred than any other nation.  We are, however, trying to calm our countrymen, and we shall work for peace with our neighbors, especially with Russia, in the future as well as in the past.  When I say especially with Russia, I express the opinion that France is offering us no assurances of success in our endeavors.  I will, however, not say that these endeavors are of no use.  We shall never pick a quarrel, nor ever attack France; and in the many little incidents which the liking of our neighbors for spying and bribing has occasioned we have always brought about a very courteous and amicable settlement.  I should consider it criminal if we were to enflame a great national war for such bagatelles.  These are instances when one should say:  “The cleverer of the two will yield.”

I am referring, therefore, especially to Russia, and here I have the same confidence of success which I expressed a year ago, and which this liberal sheet printed in such large type, without any “running after,” or as a German paper very vulgarly called it, “Kow-towing” to Russia.  That time has passed.  We no longer sue for love, either in France or in Russia!  The Russian press and the Russian public opinion have shown the door to an old powerful and reliable friend, which we were.  We do not force ourselves on anybody.  We have tried to reestablish the old intimate relations, but we are running after nobody.  This does not prevent us, however, from observing the treaty-rights which Russia has with us; on the contrary, it is an incentive to us to do so.