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The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse by Vicente Blasco Ibáñez
page 140 of 502 (27%)
their chants the blessed war--if it led to triumph.

"We are not making war in order to punish the Servian regicides, nor to
free the Poles, nor the others oppressed by Russia, stopping there in
admiration of our disinterested magnanimity. We wish to wage it because
we are the first people of the earth and should extend our activity over
the entire planet. Germany's hour has sounded. We are going to take
our place as the powerful Mistress of the World, the place which Spain
occupied in former centuries, afterwards France, and England to-day.
What those people accomplished in a struggle of many years we are going
to bring about in four months. The storm-flag of the Empire is now going
to wave over nations and oceans; the sun is going to shine on a great
slaughter. . . .

"Old Rome, sick unto death, called 'barbarians' the Germans who opened
the grave. The world to-day also smells death and will surely call us
barbarians. . . . So be it! When Tangiers and Toulouse, Amberes and
Calais have become submissive to German barbarism . . . then we will
speak further of this matter. We have the power, and who has that
needs neither to hesitate nor to argue. . . . Power! . . . That is the
beautiful word--the only word that rings true and clear. . . . Power!
One sure stab and all argument is answered forever!"

"But are you so sure of victory?" asked Desnoyers. "Sometimes Destiny
gives us great surprises. There are hidden forces that we must take into
consideration or they may overturn the best-laid plans."

The smile of the Doctor became increasingly scornful and arrogant.
Everything had been foreseen and studied out long ago with the most
minute Germanic method. What had they to fear? . . . The enemy most to
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