to account that through
imperfect knowledge of their mutual position such an equality may appear
to the two Commanders to subsist, still the difference of political
objects does away with this possibility of suspension. One of the
parties must of necessity be assumed politically to be the aggressor,
because no War could take place from defensive intentions on both
sides. But the aggressor has the positive object, the defender merely a
negative one. To the first then belongs the positive action, for it is
only by that means that he can attain the positive object; therefore,
in cases where both parties are in precisely similar circumstances, the
aggressor is called upon to act by virtue of his positive object.

Therefore, from this point of view, a suspension in the act of Warfare,
strictly speaking, is in contradiction with the nature of the thing;
because two Armies, being two incompatible elements, should destroy one
another unremittingly, just as fire and water can never put themselves
in equilibrium, but act and react upon one another, until one quite
disappears. What would be said of two wrestlers who remained clasped
round each other for hours without making a movement. Action in War,
therefore, like that of a clock which is wound up, should go on running
down in regular motion.--But wild as is the nature of War it still wears
the chains of human weakness, and the contradiction we see here, viz.,
that man seeks and creates dangers which he fears at the same time will
astonish no one.

If we cast a glance at military history in general, we find so much the
opposite of an incessant advance towards the aim, that STANDING STILL
and DOING NOTHING is quite plainly the NORMAL CONDITION of an Army in
the midst of War, ACTING, the EXCEPTION. This must almost raise a doubt
as to the correctness of our conception. But if military history
leads to this conclusion when viewed in the mass the latest series of
campaigns redeems our position. The War of the French Revolution shows
too plainly its reality, and only proves too clearly its necessity. In
these operations, and especially in the campaigns of Buonaparte, the
conduct of War attained to that unlimited degree of energy which we have
represented as the natural law of the element. This degree is therefore
possible, and if it is possible then it is necessary.

How could any one in fact justify in the eyes of reason the expenditure
of forces in War, if acting was not the obje