EUROPE'S DYNASTIC SLAUGHTER HOUSE 73 



Heretofore in the world's history the rule of the right of conquest 

 has been indubitable: to the victors all; to the vanquished nothing, or 

 nothing not conceded as a gratuity. In lieu of former tyrannous 

 exactions, it will be for Great Britain to stand steadfast lest floodgates 

 of rapacity open wide; to initiate a new order, not as ethical, but as 

 equitable, correcting the cruel law of might and of greed, by the law of 

 right, not because it is good, but because it is great. 



It will be only by the unquestioned forbearance of the West that 

 the East can be effectually restrained. There lies the future's peril. 

 The wisdom of the first Napoleon was not astray in declaring that 

 Europe was destined to become " all Eepublican or all Cossack." It 

 will be for men " of good will," not . apathetically to await fiats of 

 Omnipotence concerning peace on earth, but rather to make and enforce 

 peace themselves in the only way by which permanent peace is possible. 



Instances of historical generosity (so bestial is the natural man) are 

 rare indeed. Of the few of record the following may be briefly men- 

 tioned : After the defeat of Pompey's army at Pharsalia Julius Caesar, 

 instead of ordering a general massacre or enslaving of the conquered, 

 issued an order according to every man of his own forces the privilege 

 of ransoming one of the enemy. It was thus that Julius made himself 

 Caesar, After the fall of La Eochelle, the English knights taken 

 prisoners and without means to ransom themselves, were sent under a 

 flag of truce home to England and there set free. The English, not 

 to be outdone, chivalrously restored to the French an equal number of 

 captive knights. From this incident came the custom of exchange of 

 prisoners, so greatly ameliorating war's horrors. 



The interchange of kindly courtesies between Grant and Lee after 

 Appomattox furnishes an American instance of the practical value of 

 generous actions. And another deserves recording: when the great- 

 hearted, wise-minded Lincoln, reproaching the vindictive of his cabinet 

 who stigmatized playing the delightful air of " Dixie " as " treasonable," 

 said : " Not so ; we captured that tune with the other effects of the 

 'Lost Cause.'" 



In the coming readjustment of European affairs, armaments, and 

 frontiers, America will surely be called upon as counsellor or arbitrator. 

 Her opportunity will be splendid. Already into American hands in 

 every capital of the contending nations antagonistic interests have been 

 committed. These, our envoys — ambassadors, ministers, and charges — 

 should be of one mind as to the spirit and purpose of mediation when 

 the time for mediation shall come. 



Doubtless it is more difficult for the onlooker to judge justly as to 

 events and policies of his own country and time than of activities of 

 which he is merely a spectator. At this very hour discussion is ram- 

 pant concerning the course that the United States should assume to 



