204 The Morality of Nature 



discover and announce right and wrong, differ in the extreme 

 in their review of this war conduct ; according to the degree 

 of their allegiance to the higher humanity and remoter 

 motives, or their instinct for emotions immediately im- 

 pelling; and still more they differ, according to the beliefs, 

 and creeds and dogmas, to which they are committed by 

 prejudice and by allegiance in religious and political 

 organizations. 



These well known facts present visibly in actual life that 

 idea which forced itself forward in the study of principles, 

 that there is in practice no fixed standard of conduct. Yet 

 the progress of humanity shows a certain grand orderly 

 movement, producing a condition which is far different 

 from what would be expected from chaotic disregard of all 

 attempted standards. 



The contradictions lie chiefly in the alternating ascendancy, 

 in environment, of the two great systems of self preserva- 

 tion; the constructive, and the destructive. It appears that, 

 although a nation of people may so far realize the brother- 

 hood of its members, as to suppress much of the open 

 practice of predatory selfishness among themselves ; yet in 

 some cases it has not achieved a sufficient understanding of, 

 and sympathy with, the neighboring nation, to permit it 

 to enjoy any apparent advantage, if by force it can secure 

 it for itself. And usually there is a persistence of the 

 repulsion until it is mutual ; because its too rapid disappear- 

 ance on either side, would open the way to destroying 

 aggression of the other. It is impossible for a pacific nation 

 to live in peace if an aggressive neighbor attacks or 

 threatens. 



