422 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



university students to compromise themselves by pledges upon entering 

 the ministry, are most cheering, evincing as they do a keener sense of 

 personal responsibility, a stronger appeal to conscience — the ' Judge 

 within ' — more tender and sympathetic natures, a higher standard of 

 human action and altogether a higher type of man. 



If war requires a surrender of all these by its recruits, much better 

 we should face the alternative and let Britain and America depend 

 upon the patriotism of citizens to defend their countries if attacked, in 

 which duty I for one strongly believe they will never be found in- 

 efficient. Colonel Henderson, in his ' Science of War/ states " that the 

 American Volunteers were superior to the conscript levies of Europe — 

 that the morale of conscript armies has always been their weakest point. 

 The morale of the volunteer is of a higher type." This stands to 

 reason. 



Should Britain ever be invaded, the whole male population able to 

 march would volunteer, and from many parts of the world thousands 

 would rush to the defense of the old home. Those who invade the 

 land of Shakespeare and Burns will find they have to face forces they 

 never reckoned upon. The hearts and consciences of all would be in the 

 work ; and ' Thrice is he armed who hath his quarrel just.' 



Students of St. Andrews, my effort has been to give you a correct 

 idea of the movement now stirring the world for the abolition of war, 

 and what it has already accomplished. It never was so widespread or 

 so vigorous, nor at any stage of the campaign have its triumphs been 

 so numerous and important as those of the last few years, beginning 

 with the Hague conference, which in itself marks an epoch. The 

 foundation stone of the structure to come was then laid. The abso- 

 lute surrender by four nations of all future differences to arbitration, 

 and Norway and Sweden's agreement, mark another stage. Thus the 

 civilized world at last moves steadily to the reign of peace through 

 arbitration. 



The question has no doubt arisen in your minds, what is your 

 duty and how can you best cooperate in this holy work and hasten the 

 end of war. I advise you to adopt Washington's words as your own, 

 ' My first wish is to see this plague of mankind, war, banished from the 

 earth.' Leagues of peace might be formed over the world with these 

 words as their motto and basis of action. How are we to realize this 

 pious wish of Washington's? may be asked. Here is the answer. 

 Whenever an international dispute arises, no matter what party is in 

 power, demand at once that your government offer to refer it to arbitra- 

 tion, and if necessary break with your party. Peace is above party. 

 Should the adversary have forestalled your government in offering 

 arbitration, which for the sake of our race I trust will never occur, 

 then insist upon its acceptance and listen to nothing until it is accepted. 



