Schools in a national State should set aside more time for bodily exercise. There should be no day on which a boy should not have at least one hour’s corporal training, both in the morning and afternoon, in games and gymnastics ; one sport in particular should not be missed out, which many “nationalists” look on as rough and unworthy—boxing. It is unbelievable what false ideas are common about it amongst the “educated”. They think it natural and honourable for a young man to learn how to fight, and for him to fight duels, but it is rough if he boxes ! Why ? There is no sport which encourages the spirit of attack as this one does ; it demands lightning decision and hardens and supples the body. It is not rougher for two youths to settle a dispute with their fists than with a polished strip of steel.
If the whole of our intellectual class had not been exclusively trained in high-class deportment, and had thoroughly learned to box instead, there could have been no German Revolution of bullies, deserters and such-like. That was only made possible because our higher school education produced not men, but rather officials, engineers, jurists, litterateurs and—in order to keep this intellectuality alive—professors.
Our intellectual leadership has always produced brilliant results, but our cultivation of will-power has been beneath criticism.
Our German nation, which now lies in a state of collapse, kicked at by everybody, needs the suggestive strength produced by self-confidence. This self-con¬ fidence must be cultivated in the younger members of the nation from childhood onwards. Their whole education and training must be directed towards giving them a conviction that they are superior to others. Through bodily strength and skill the youth must recover faith in the unconquerableness of his nation. For what once led the German hosts to victory was the sum of the confidence which each individual felt in himself, and all felt in their leaders. It is the con¬ viction that freedom can once again be achieved. But that conviction can only be the final product of a sentiment shared by millions of individuals.