WAR AND PEACE 297 



settlement, the league agreeing to declare non-intercourse with any 

 nation refusing compliance. Imagine a nation cut off to-day from 

 the world. The league also might reserve to itself the right, where 

 non-intercourse is likely to fail or has failed to prevent war, to use the 

 necessary force to maintain peace, each member of the league agreeing 

 to provide the needed forces, or money in lieu thereof, in proportion to 

 her population or wealth. Being experimental and upon trial, it might 

 be deemed advisable, if necessary, at first to agree that any member 

 could withdraw after giving five years' notice, and that the league 

 should dissolve five years after a majority vote of all the members. 

 Further provisions, and perhaps some adaptations, would be found 

 requisite, but the main idea is here. 



The Emperor of Eussia called the Hague conference, which gave 

 us an international tribunal. Were King Edward or the Emperor of 

 Germany or the President of France, acting for their governments, to 

 invite the nations to send representatives to consider the wisdom of 

 forming such a league, the invitation would no doubt be responded to 

 and probably prove successful. 



The number that would gladly join such a league would be great, 

 for the smaller nations would welcome the opportunity. 



The relations between Britain, France and the United States to-day 

 are so close, their aims so similar, their territories and fields of opera- 

 tion so clearly defined and so different, that these powers might 

 properly unite in inviting other nations to consider the question of such 

 a league as has been sketched. It is a subject well worthy the atten- 

 tion of their rulers, for of all the modes of hastening the end of war 

 this appears the easiest and the best. We have no reason to doubt that 

 arbitration in its present optional form will continue its rapid progress, 

 and that it in itself contains the elements required finally to lead us 

 to peace, for it conquers wherever it is tried; but it is none the less 

 gratifying to know that there is in reserve a drastic mode of enforce- 

 ment, if needed, which would promptly banish war. . . . 



Let me close by quoting the words of Lincoln. When a young man, 

 employed upon a trading boat, he made a voyage of some weeks' dura- 

 tion upon the Mississippi. He visited a slave market, where men, 

 women and children were not slaughtered, as formerly in war, but were 

 separated and sold from the auction block. His companion tells that 

 after standing for some time Lincoln turned and walked silently away. 

 Lifting his clenched hand, his first words were, " If ever I get a chance, 

 I shall hit this accursed thing hard." Many years passed, during 

 which he never failed to stand forth as the bitter foe of slavery and the 

 champion of the slave. This was for him the paramount issue. He was 

 true to his resolve throughout life, and in the course of events his time 

 came at last. This poor, young, toiling boatman became president of 

 the United States, and was privileged with a stroke of his pen to 



