The Blood of the Nation 



tion has ever seen. It is doubtless true 

 that warlike traditions are most persist- 

 ent with nations most frequently en- 

 gaged in war. But the traditions of 

 war and the physical strength to gain; 

 victories are very different things. 

 Other things being equal, the nation 

 which has known least of war is the 

 one most likely to develop the " strong 

 battalions' with whom victory must 

 rest. 



What shall we say of England and 

 her hundred petty wars " smouldering " 

 in every part of the globe ? 



Statistics we have none, and no evi- 

 dence of tangible decline that English- 

 men will not indignantly repudiate. 

 Besides, in the struggle for national 

 influences, England has had many ad- 

 vantages which must hide or neutralize 

 the waste of war. In default of facts 

 unquestioned, we may appeal to the 

 poets, letting their testimony as to the 



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