The Duel Between France and Germany
Summary
"The Duel Between France and Germany" by Charles Sumner is a historical account likely written in the late 19th century. This work is a lecture originally delivered in Boston during the Franco-Prussian War, reflecting on the deeper implications of the conflict between these two nations. Sumner explores the concept of war as a continuation of dueling practices on a grander scale, dissecting the actions and motivations of leaders in the context of national honor and politics. At the start of the lecture, the author emphasizes the rapid and unexpected escalation of hostilities between France and Germany, highlighting that the war began from trivial provocations and culminated in national tragedy. Sumner details the public discourse leading up to the war, pointing out the irrationality of waging war over seemingly minor diplomatic issues. He condemns the brutality of war, critiques the motivations of leaders like Louis Napoleon, and underscores the need for a shift from war to arbitration among nations. This opening portion sets the stage for a broader discussion on how civilization must evolve to avoid such destructive conflicts. (This is an automatically generated summary.)
Similar Books
-
Letters of Ulysses S. Grant to His Father and His Youngest Sister, 1857-78by Grant, Ulysses S. (Ulysses Simpson), 1822-1885
-
History of Negro Soldiers in the Spanish-American War, and Other Items of Interestby Johnson, Edward A. (Edward Austin), 1860-1944
-
America's War for Humanityby Russell, Thomas Herbert, 1862-1947
-
With British Guns in Italy: A Tribute to Italian Achievementby Dalton, Hugh Dalton, Baron, 1887-1962
-
Laura Secord, the heroine of 1812: A Drama; and Other Poemsby Curzon, Sarah Anne, 1833-1898
-
On the Trail of Grant and Leeby Hill, Frederick Trevor, 1866-1930
-
The Fifteen Decisive Battles of the World: from Marathon to Waterlooby Creasy, Edward Shepherd, Sir, 1812-1878
-
War and the Future: Italy, France and Britain at Warby Wells, H. G. (Herbert George), 1866-1946