The Result 203 



anisms in the form of arms, cannon, food, 

 means of transportation, and other supplies 

 used by one side are matched against similar 

 agents used by their opponents, and the relative 

 excellence of their instruments as destructive 

 agents is thus determined. 



There is, it is true, a destruction of life, but 

 it is only an incident to the destruction of 

 property, through which the real contest is 

 decided. The poorer instruments are elimi- 

 nated by the contest, but not the poorer men. 

 So far as men are killed off, it is probably the 

 best men on each side that die. It is not this 

 loss of men that modifies society, but the emo- 

 tions of those who see or hear of the destruc- 

 tion of life and property. So too, when two 

 nations or classes contest in the industrial field, 

 the struggle ends when the material equipment 

 of the one is show r n to be inferior. Selection 

 and elimination act on these tools, but not on 

 the men. The emotional effect of this destruc- 

 tion is an industrial depression which alone 

 produces an abiding effect on men. Contests 

 between men are thus usually decided within 

 the realm of wealth ; if they go farther, they 



