THE HAMILTON ASSOCIATION. 33 



matter of fact, Germany's war expenditure is not so large as that of 

 tlie United States ; and the time spent in the army — two years, 

 shortened, in certain cases, to one year— is not lost time, by any 

 means. The results are seen in the improved physique of 

 the people, in the lowered death-rate, and in the increased 

 national health. There can be devised no system for the 

 thorough training of a people, for their all-round development — 

 schools, libraries and other means of mental instruction are attached 

 to continental army-stations — there can be devised no system for 

 such training, and for training in habits of obedience, promptness, 

 and thoroughness, that can compare with compulsory military service 

 for a reasonable term. Therefore, as has often been said, were there 

 no danger of war, conscription would, in all probability, still be 

 maintained. On the other hand, the existence of large bodies of 

 armed men is a provocative of war. The officers desire promotion ; the 

 men become restless in inaction ; the rulers (whether Emperor or 

 Parliament) wish to test the efficiency of their military system. 

 Taken altogether, then, it may be reasonably assumed that, sooner 

 or later, Europe will be plunged into a great conflict. 



The disturbing cause will be one of two : The Franco-German 

 quarrel and the Eastern Question. As to the first. It does seem 

 almost incredible that a nation so highly civilized a5 is France can 

 deliberately and avowedly prepare for a war of revenge : a war which 

 shall deluge two lands, possibly a whole continent, in innocent 

 blood. This shows how backward, according to our ideas of 

 right and wrong, France is. But there are many countervailing con- 

 siderations. We, must not forget that the French beUeve Prussia to 

 have intrigued and provoked the war of 1870 ; that her terms to the 

 conquered were of unexampled severity ; and that France had no 

 opportunity in the war of showing her real strength. We must not 

 forget that she lost two provinces which had been in her 

 possession for more than 200 years ; and that the people of these 

 provinces, even yet, would much prefer French rule. At any rate, 

 right or wrong, that a nation in many things the foremost in the 

 world, a nation of whom it was said in times of old, " Deus omnia per 

 Francos " — " God does all things through the Franks " — that such a 

 nation shall lie prostrate before this rude 'upstart from northern 

 forests : that her battle-flags, which have waved in victory in 



