STUDIES, SCIENTIFIC AND SOCIAL 



well-being of the peoples who have been forced to fight 

 each other. In every case the people suffer by the loss or 

 disablement of sons, husbands, and fathers, by the 

 destruction of crops, houses, and other property, and by 

 increased taxation, due to the increase of armaments that 

 always follows such wars even in the case of the victors. 

 Hence the material and moral interests of the mass of the 

 people of every country are wholly opposed to war, except 

 in the one case of defending their country against invasion 

 and conquest. They are therefore more open to the in- 

 fluence of moral and humane considerations, while they 

 alone feel the full force of the numberless evils which war 

 brings upon them. Except in very rare cases, a plebiscite 

 fairly taken would decide against any other than a de- 

 fensive war. 



(2) To discuss the effects of militarism under the 

 various heads suggested in the question would require 

 much space and some special knowledge which I do not 

 possess. That these effects have both good and evil 

 aspects may be admitted. The evil effects have been 

 often set forth and are sufficiently known, both in their 

 vast extent and far-reaching consequences, while the 

 greatest of them — the perpetuation of war and the desire 

 for military glory — has already been alluded to. I will, 

 therefore, confine my remarks to the partial good that 

 undoubtedly exists in this fundamentally evil thing, 

 chiefly for the purpose of showing that whatever good 

 there is in it may be obtained in other ways which are as 

 essentially humane, moral, and beneficial as war is essen- 

 tially cruel, immoral, and hurtful. 



The good that results from militarism arises wholly from 

 the perfection of its organisation, of its training, of the 

 habits of order, cleanliness, and obedience which the 

 soldier soon learns are essentials to' efficiency ; from the 

 social and brotherly life of the soldier, whether in camp 

 or in the field ; from the esprit de corps which grows out 

 of its systematic organisation and companionship, leading 

 to generous rivalry and to those deeds of heroism and 

 self-sacrifice which are universally admired. And, further, 

 every soldier learns by experience the marvellous power 



