i54 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



clined and advised recourse to The Hague. A world state implies 

 republican government; it will necessarily be representative, not of 

 monarchs, but of nations and peoples; this is not in harmony with the 

 divine right of kings. But this opposition of the monarchs will not be 

 insurmountable. If a strong sentiment in favor of arbitration or 

 federation be manifested, the monarchs will very discreetly give way, 

 as has been their wont in the past century. 



7. Conclusion. — This article has been merely an attempt to give an 

 account of a tendency, its history and characteristics. The informa- 

 tion available is exceedingly scarce; what is available is rather scat- 

 tered and isolated; the status and force of the movement at any given 

 time are difficult to estimate; the very nature of the movement itself is 

 vague and visionary, it seems too fantastic to be practical, the attempt 

 seems premature; it is the work of idealists, of optimists; their efforts 

 are naturally looked upon with suspicion and discredit by conservatives 

 and realists. Nevertheless, idealists prepare the way for movements 

 which quicken the pulse of humanity and which bring about reforms 

 both small and great. -No person living to-day may ever see the estab- 

 lishment of a world state with power to execute its laws. However, 

 we have seen that part of the machinery of a world state has been con- 

 structed and that other parts are in the process of construction. It 

 may take decades before this world state will exercise any influence. 

 But it seems no small accomplishment for an age to create the ma- 

 chinery of a world state which mankind will use to good advantage 

 when there exists a sufficiently strong feeling of the need for and de- 

 sirability of such an organization. 



Too much must not be expected of this movement. The world 

 state will not bring about immediate disarmament, but if it succeeds 

 it will bring about compulsory arbitration; it will establish a state of 

 law among the nations. The more disputes settled by arbitration, by 

 judicial decision in accordance with laws passed by a world congress, 

 the fewer will be the occasions for war. If the need for war is de- 

 creased, armaments will be less necessary and possibly may be aban- 

 doned. Inasmuch as an object so worthy may ultimately be attained 

 by this now rather visionary movement, it at least merits our attention 

 and sincere hopes for its ultimate success. 



