I foresee the exclamation which will be called forth. Such a principle

I foresee the exclamation which will be called forth. Such a principle, it will be said, would make an

army impossible and a government powerless. It would never do to have each soldier use his judgment

about the purpose for which a battle is waged. Military organization would be paralyzed and our country

would be a prey to the first invader.

Not so fast, is the reply. For one war an army would remain just as available as now €“ a war of

national defence. In such a war every soldier would be conscious of the justice of his cause. He would

not be engaged in dealing death among men about whose doings, good or ill, he knew nothing, but among

men who were manifest transgressors against himself and his compatriots. Only aggressive war would be

negatived, not defensive war.

Of course it may be said, and said truly, that if there is no aggressive war there can be no defensive

war. It is clear, however, that one nation may limit itself to defensive war when other nations do not.

So that the principle remains operative.

But those whose cry is €“ €œOur country, right or wrong!€ and who would add to our eighty-odd

possessions others to be similarly obtained, will contemplate with disgust such a restriction upon

military action. To them no folly seems greater than that of practising on Monday the principles they

profess on Sunday.