India, Feb. 16 -- Breakdown of Values No top leader of a sovereign State would use such extreme language as German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier did when expressing his fear that the international order may disintegrate into a "Den of robbers," unless he saw it taking place right before his eyes. He was giving vent to his intense distress, growing alarmed about the anarchic order into which Trump was pushing the world. Flexing muscles is not dignified diplomacy. What else has Trump been doing while dealing with Venezuela, Iran and the EU?

But ambitious power-seekers and cultural nationalists hasten to imitate such a show of strength by a world hegemon. Stephen Miller, White House Adviser, was embarrassingly outspoken when he confesse...