16 JOURNAL AND PROCEEDINGS 
next hundred years they had practically supplanted the Brit- 
ons, either driving them in flight to the extremities of the island 
or retaining them amongst themselves as servants. With them 
might was right. They had no excuse and wanted none. The 
fierce elements of their nature lusted in conquest. In a some- 
what similar manner might we speak of the Danish and Norman 
invasions, or in late years, of the Hundred-years’ war. 
The nations and people of the time were in such a econ- 
dition that there was none to say nay to the conqueror, and so 
he plunged his own and a neighboring country into a costly 
and tedious war on the slightest pretext, bringing untold mis- , 
ery on the people. As time passed on and the nations crystal- 
lized into definite forms, the people gradually worked their 
way up to higher civilization. Men dared to claim their rights 
even against kings. The spirit of liberty, the love of freedom, 
which the old Anglo-Saxon sea-kings brought from Germany 
remained with them; and although often crushed to earth, rose 
again, phoenix-like, and strengthened with the passing years. 
Thus the people of England gradually gained their rights as 
a self-governing nation. Thus was gradually formed in the 
course of the centuries that wonderful force for good—the 
public opinion of a free and enlighened people—and which at 
the present time is so strong a determining factor in the matter 
of war, that kings and ministers watch its nod and do its bid- 
ding. 
We judge, then, that there is inherent in man’s nature that 
which leads him to war upon his fellows to maintain his right, 
to avenge his wrongs, or to add to his conquests. Is war, then,» 
justifiable on these grounds? Yes and no. With a low state of 
civilization, yes; in a sufficiently high eivilization, no. The 
question can not be answered in the same way for all ages. To 
the North American Indian war was a glorious occupation; to the 
minds of right-minded men of our own nation at the present day, 
it is a horrible necessity. Among the lower classes of society 
the street brawl and _ bar-room fight are still too common. 
Amongst the better class of citizens there is no resort to brute 
force in the settlement of disputes. The law is appealed to as 
