"Did he not think that the real
responsibility rested with German militarism? Had it not sought and
prepared this conflict, by its arrogance preventing any settlement?"
The Socialist denied this roundly. His deputies were supporting the war
and, therefore, must have good reason. Everything that he said showed an
absolute submission to discipline--the eternal German discipline, blind
and obedient, which was dominating even the most advanced parties. In
vain the Frenchman repeated arguments and facts which everybody had read
from the beginning of the war. His words simply slid over the calloused
brains of this revolutionist, accustomed to delegating all his reasoning
functions to others.
"Who can tell?" he finally said. "Perhaps we have made a mistake. But
just at this moment all is confused; the premises which would enable us
to draw exact conclusions are lacking. When the conflict ends, we shall
know the truly guilty parties, and if they are ours we shall throw the
responsibility upon them."
Desnoyers could hardly keep from laughing at his simplicity. To wait
till the end of the war to know who was to blame! . . . And if the
Empire should come out conqueror, what responsibility could the
Socialists exact in the full pride of victory, they who always confined
themselves to electoral battles, without the slightest attempt at
rebellion?
"Whatever the cause may be," concluded the Socialist, "this war is very
sad.
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