-that
justice is nothing more than the advantage of the stronger; might is
right.

[_Note.--Plato laid down that the end for which the State exists is
justice._]

The most startling among them are (1) denial that there are any duties
owed by the State to humanity, except that of imposing its own superior
civilization upon as large a part of humanity as possible, and (2)
denial of the duty of observing treaties which are only so much paper to
modern German writers.

The State is a much more tremendous entity than it is to Englishmen or
Americans; it is the supreme power, with a sort of mystic sanctity--a
power conceived of, as it were, self-created; a force altogether
distinct from and superior to the persons who compose it. But a State
is, after all, only so many individuals organized under a Government. It
is no wiser, no more righteous than the human beings of whom at
consists, and whom it sets up to govern it. If it is right for persons
united as citizens into a State to rob and murder for their collective
advantage by their collective power, why should it be wicked for
citizens, as individuals, to do so? Does their moral responsibility
cease when and because they act together? Most legal systems hold that
there are acts which one man may lawfully do which become unlawful if
done by a number of men conspiring together; but now it would seem that
what would be a crime in persons as individuals, is high policy for
those persons united in a State. Has the State, then, no morality, no
responsibility? Is there no such thing as a common humanity? Are there
no duties owed to it? Is there none of that "decent respect to the
opinions of mankind," which the framers of the Declaration of
Independence recognized? No sense that even the greatest States are
amenable to the sentiment of the civilized world?

How Weaker States Are Affected.

Let us see how these doctrines affect smaller and weaker States which
have hitherto lived in comparative security beside great powers. They
will be absolutely at the mercy of the stronger, even if protected by
treaties guaranteeing their neutrality and independence. They will not
be safe, for treaty obligations are worthless "when they do not
correspond to facts," i.e., when the strong power finds that they stand
in its way its interests are paramount.

If a State hold valuable minerals, as Sweden has iron, and Belgium coal,
and Rumania oil, or if it has abundance of water powe