146 The Lesson of History 



higher element of their being. Of organisation there 

 was none, and social betterment was impossible . In fact , 

 the whole process has been one of social anarchy and 

 confusion, which must inevitably accompany tyranny, 

 exaction, and oppression. And to-day the Nemesis 

 attending such processes is proved to a demonstration. 

 We rejoice in the present war, and there is no incon- 

 sistency in such rejoicing, because it is the only means 

 by which the reign of force can be brought to an end. 

 And we rejoice for the further reason, as Mr. Angell says, 

 that "if it is good for the Balkan States to abandon 

 conflict as between themselves in favour of co-opera- 

 tion against the common enemy, it can only be good 

 for other Christian nations to abandon such conflicts 

 in favour of co-operation against their common enemy, 

 which is wild nature, and human error, and ignorance, 

 and passion." Dr. Winslow Hall has given beautiful 

 expression to this idea in a wonderful poem—" More 

 than Conquerors " — from which the following lines 

 are taken : 



" Trust will spread, trust will spread, 

 If we flout misconceptions and dread ; 

 We'll make head, we'll make head, 

 When the love-lighted lead the misled. 



" Nevermore, nevermore, 

 Shall the nations be darkened with gore ! 

 We shall soar, we shall soar, 

 On the wings of the wrath we forbore.' ' 



As intelligent beings, appreciating the phenomena 

 of history, we are bound to agree with Norman Angell 

 and J. M. Robertson. It is only those who have an axe 

 to grind, or who are prejudiced by a military environ- 

 ment, who can defend warfare, or continue to recom- 

 mend a policy of compulsory military training or ser- 

 vice. > Nothing more disastrous to the higher evolution 

 of the human race could happen than that the United 



