INTRODUCTION. XXIX 



existing international differences, and thereby secure the reduction 

 of the overwhelming and crushing armed forces, and thus safeguard 

 to the peoples of Europe the unspeakable blessings of peace ? 



Disguise it as we may, it cannot be denied that Europe is on the 

 brink of a huge precipice. Will no one at such a supreme crisis in 

 the affairs of Europe stand, as it were, between the living and the 

 dead, and intercede with the responsible Governments, and say to 

 them, "This must not, this cannot, this shall not be, 'Sirs, ye 

 are brethren; why do ye one another this harm?'" 



The present time seems eminently favourable for making such 

 an attempt. For on the one hand, the Governments, everywhere 

 proclaim by the mouth of their Prime Ministers, in the strongest 

 language possible, their fervent desires for the maintenance of the 

 general peace, and, further, that no efforts shall be spared on 

 their part to secure it, whilst on the other hand, from the 

 peoples of every nation, who are groaning beneath the colossal 

 burden of taxation, rises a loud, deep, and universal appeal for 

 deliverance from that most detestable system of the modern 

 statesmanship of Europe, the military conscription. There is, 

 too, at the present moment, a calm over tha political horizon^, the 

 calm, Alas ! which may precede the coming storm, as if, by tacit consent 

 amongst the Great Powers, it was mutually agreed that there should 

 reign, for a brief perio4, an interregnum of peace, a truce amongst 

 the Nations. During this interval of apparent tranquillity, will no 

 Government take the initiative, and avert from Europe the 

 indescribable horrors of wholesale human carnage ? 



Europe, with one voice, earnestly appeals to the statesmanship of 

 every State, whether Imperial, Monarchical, or Repiiblican, to take the 

 initiative in this grand crusade of humanity, and civilisation against 

 war; and whatever statesman boldly intervenes, at this critical moment, 

 will undoubtedly, whether he fails or whether he succeeds, reap an 

 imperishable glory, far transcending the glory of " the warrior' of the 

 battlefield of confused noise, and of garments rolled in blood," for 

 it will be a glory immortal, because, if successful, he will have 

 saved a vast continent from spoliation and ruin, and delivered its 

 people from an inglorious and an ignominious death. 



Important, however, as may be any international arrangement for 

 securing mutual disarmament, yet it will be generally acknowledged 

 that the only true remedy, for the Militarism which exists in 

 Europe, the vast and . unnecessary arinaments, and the gigantic 

 expenditure which they involve, is the establishment of a recognised- 



