s
noble in dimension, and they must be giants who use it. If you are a
giant, your task awaits you.

"It is nonsense to talk of any great war in which this country will
ever be engaged," said a wise and experienced public man to me one
day, in discussing our future. "There is no place in the world for
distinguished service by an American soldier. He can wear his uniform;
he can study his tactics; he can be a warrior of the ball-room; but,
after all, he is only a kind of policeman."

This conversation occurred some years ago. The fallacy of this
conservative (shall we not say short-sighted, for sometimes they are
mistaken for one another) man's conclusion has been revealed by recent
events. And these events are only an index of similar possibilities.
Not that we want war; not that it is desirable; not that it should not
be avoided, if possible; but that the movement of the pawns by Events
on the great chess-board of the world and history may force us to war,
no matter how unwillingly.

It may be that in the ultimate outcome, to use a double superlative,
"a parliament of man and federation of the world" will be established
which shall divide and distribute commerce as railroads are now said
to agree on division of business and equality of rates.

But before such a noble condition arises there will surely be vast and
destructive conflicts, unless the temper, nature, and attitude of men
and nations change; and, if they do occur, no one but a fanatic of
reaction imagines for one instant that we shall be able to keep out of
them.

So that not all the battles have been fought, not all the strategy
thought out. And if you are a soldier and mean business, you need not
despair of the possibility of winning one of the highest of honors
given man to win--the honor of fighting for your country and of dying
for your flag.

The Russo-Japanese War has demonstrated that military science is as
much more complex and difficult to-day than during our Civil War, as
it was then more complicated than in the time of battle-ax and lance.
The recent conflict in Asia shows that it is as important to get
wounded men cured and back on the firing line as it is to punish the
other side. A nation that would now enter into armed conflict without
a general staff or some similar body of men would be hurling its
soldiers, however brave, to certain death.

And yet Von Moltke, Germany's greatest captain, originated the modern
general staff; and the