MIGHT AND RIGHT 5 



critical stage of its evolution. It is distinguished by 

 a quality that makes it superior to all the other 

 nations of the earth, a quality not easy to define, 

 but perfected by long generations of patient culture, 

 and tinged with the alluring mysticism of a mission. 

 It has prospered beyond all belief in the splendours of 

 material civilization, in commerce, in the arts and 

 sciences. On every frontier it presses on the effete 

 and barbarous peoples beyond its pale, and trans- 

 cending the seas, it has infiltrated the remotest parts 

 of the earth. Outside her own boundaries, however, 

 Germany loses directive control over her own sons, 

 and although these may look back to the fatherland 

 with affection and gratitude, they submit to other 

 influences and contribute to foreign prosperity. Be- 

 coming easy cosmopolitans, they forget the high 

 purpose of nationality, and their children are citizens 

 of new countries. Germany, in fact, is giving to all 

 mankind what was meant for herself. 



But in forty years of peace, the rulers of Germany 

 have been mindful of biological law. Within a State, 

 the rivalry of individuals and of groups may be con- 

 trolled by the discipline of justice and law. In the 

 struggle between State and State, there is nothing 

 to mitigate biological law ; there is no right except 

 might, no justice except the arbitrament of war. 

 " Might is at once the supreme right, and the dispute 

 as to what is right is to be decided by the arbitra- 

 ment of war. War gives a biologically just decision, 

 since its decisions rest on the very nature of things," 

 And so they have bent the will of the people to the 

 great task ; they have moulded all the activities of 

 the nation into a machine for war, and high above the 



