NOTES 



The World's Misrulers 



The Indictment 



Humanity will never be the same after this war as it was 

 before it. It will always feel like a man who at the height 

 of his prosperity but in a sudden moment of aberration has 

 committed an appalling crime — which will burden his con- 

 science for ever, though perhaps he cannot be punished for it. 

 Probably never before had humanity risen to such a stage of 

 success and happiness. Then, in a moment, we were plunged 

 into the darkness. Suddenly the world became full of liars, 

 spies, poisoners, assassins of the night. We, who were honest 

 labourers, farmers, traders, doctors, and lawyers, had to go 

 forth in our millions to do evil things : to blow other men 

 like ourselves to pieces with bombs and shells, to scatter their 

 limbs far and wide, to pierce their bodies, to dash out their 

 brains, to bring them shrieking down from heights in the air, 

 to fling them upwards by subterranean explosions, to throw 

 thousands of them struggling, crying, and gurgling out their 

 last breath, into the sea ; to suffer these things in our turn. 

 Why ? Did a single one of us wish for it ? Were there a 

 dozen people in the whole world so foolish as to imagine that 

 a tremendous struggle between two halves of humanitv could 

 lead to any profit to either half, even to the victorious half ? 

 Yet the war occurred. It occurred in spite of our boasted 

 religion, science, civilisation, and political organisation — like 

 an earthquake, flood, or pestilence which men are powerless 

 to prevent. 



The fact has stupefied the world. We do not blame our- 

 selves — openly ; we remember our own courage, wisdom, and 

 self-sacrifice. But nevertheless there is deep in our hearts 

 a voice which accuses us. We protest against the accusation : 

 not we, but those who made the war, are to blame ; we have 

 only done our duty. Yes but, our Conscience replies, it was 

 your sloth and stupidity which allowed them to make it ; your 



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