t the weight of their
attacks. Out of war came accessions of territory for Prussia, and at
last German unity. The reliance of intelligent and patriotic Germany on
military force as the basis of national greatness is a natural result of
its experiences. Americans, however, believe that this reliance is
unsound both theoretically and practically. The wars in Europe since
1870-71, the many threatenings of war, and the present catastrophe seem
to Americans to demonstrate that no amount of military preparedness on
the part of the nations of Europe can possibly keep the peace of the
Continent, or indeed prevent frequent explosions of destructive warfare.
They think, too, that preparation for war on the part of Germany better
than any of her neighbors can make will not keep her at peace or protect
her from invasion, even if this better preparation include advantages of
detail which have been successfully kept secret. All the nations which
surround Germany are capable of developing a strong fighting spirit; and
all the countries of Europe, except England and Russia, possess the
means of quickly assembling and getting into action great bodies of men.
In other words, all the European States are capable of developing a
passionate patriotism, and all possess the railroads, roads,
conveyances, telegraphs, and telephones which make rapid mobilization
possible. No perfection of military forces, and no amount of previous
study of feasible campaigns against neighbors, can give peaceful
security to Germany in the present condition of the great European
States. In the actual development of weapons and munitions, and of the
art of quick intrenching, the attacking force in battle on land is at a
great disadvantage in comparison with the force on the defensive. That
means indecisive battles and ultimately an indecisive war, unless each
party is resolved to push the war to the utter exhaustion and
humiliation of the other--a long process which involves incalculable
losses and wastes and endless miseries. Americans have always before
them the memory of their four years' civil war, which, although
resolutely prosecuted on both sides, could not be brought to a close
until the resources of the Southern States in men and material were
exhausted. In that dreadful process the whole capital of the Southern
States was wiped out.

But One Possible Issue.

Now that the sudden attack on Paris has failed, and adequate time has
been secured to summon t