of our economic life. It is not caused alone by human unreason, by the
pride of individuals, the greed of social classes, the prejudices of
races and nationalities, but is closely intertwined with those economic
ideals upon which the best as well as the worst in our civilisation is
reared. We had believed that industrialism and militarism were
mutually opposed and that the factory would automatically destroy the
army. To-day we see how each of these has entered into the spirit of
the other and how each helps the other. The army is industrialised and
the national industry is put upon a military, fighting basis. The same
forces that impel a nation to develop its trade, increase its output,
improve its industrial technique, also impel it to raise large armies
and to fight for the things for which men work. To divorce economic
ambition from the national aggression that leads to war will not be
easy. It is a sobering task which faces those who wish to use
America's influence in the cause of peace.

Whatever our course of action, however, whether we strive for an
American imperialism or for internationalism, one thing is certain: it
cannot be instinctive, fluctuating, {15} undirected. We cannot
revolutionise our international relations with each new administration
or with each change of the moon. Nor can we stay at home and, ignorant
of the causes of war, content ourselves with a long-distance preaching
of peace to the menaced nations of Europe. Each of the two courses
open to us involves self-direction, valour and strength. If we are to
enter upon a struggle for place, power and profits, we must prepare for
a dangerous contest: if we are to labour for a new international
harmony, for peace and good-will and the delicate adjustments without
which these are but words, we shall also need courage--and infinite
patience. Without knowledge we shall accomplish nothing. To enter
upon an international career without a sense of the conditions
underlying peace and war, is to walk in darkness along a dangerous path.

{16}

CHAPTER II

THE SKELETON OF WAR

To ascribe world events to the action of a single individual is a naive
yet persistent manner of thought. All over Europe men blamed the war
upon a wicked Kaiser, a swaggering, immature Crown Prince, a
weak-fisted Von Berchtold, a sinister Tisza, a childish Poincare, an
unscrupulous Sir Edward Grey, an abysmally astute Sasonof. We in
America blamed everythin