The prospect is sufficiently disturbing, for Herr Hitler and his Nazi followers have had little practical experience in State administration, and are plainly obsessed by bitter prejudices such as ill become a government.
But while the future of Germany under a Nazi regime is not to be contemplated with a great deal of confidence, the means by which the "Hitlerisation" of the country is being achieved gives immediate cause for grave concern.
The Nazis have not, since their election victory, indicated that they possess any strong sense of responsibility.
The series of coups by which they have apparently imposed Hitlerism on every State legislature, and every municipal administration in the Reich, have been remarkable for their violence rather than for any subtlety of strategic design.
Terrorist tactics do not reflect any credit on those who employ them. Temporarily, at least, the reign of force in Germany seems to be assured of survival. The Nazis have all the advantages.
The police forces are subject to their control, and the "storm troops" have been well organised, even if they are no longer subject to precise discipline. To what extent Herr Hitler and the other Nazi leaders are encouraging or permitting the excesses which are being practised in the name of Fascism cannot be judged.
It may be assumed, however, that even if Herr Hitler does not approve the lawless hooliganism of the "storm troops", he is at least tolerating it as a means towards the end which he has in view.
Yet it is difficult to believe that a victory achieved by these methods is the most satisfactory, particularly when it represents the subjection of the majority to a hot-headed faction.
At the last elections the Hitlerites had a very considerable victory over any other party organisation, but they received considerably less than half the votes that were cast.
Of the voters who at the polls signified their sympathy with the Nazis, only a comparatively small proportion is composed of active supporters of the movement, and it may be doubted whether many of them had any intention of signifying their approval of the campaign of terrorisation which, for the moment, is the main contribution of the National Socialists to the reorganisation of Germany.
Herr Hitler has still to show his mettle in the less theatrical spheres of leadership, and his failure or neglect to control his followers is not the most convincing evidence of his capacity to govern.