et--The Human Pathway--Peace by International
Police--The Practical Way--Is a New Age Approaching?

The endeavor in these pages has been to show from close personal
research in Europe the cause and cost of this war--cost in finance and
human lives,--and also the lessons that America, and particularly the
United States, should derive from this greatest war.

It is not so material when this war terminates, as how it terminates.
Many people, and especially those sympathetic with Germany, are looking
for a drawn battle. This means a world-disaster, and no world-progress.

The British Empire is determined that this war shall mean for
generations a lasting peace by the destruction of the German war
machine. The Germans likewise declare that what they are fighting for
is the peace of Europe. The Germans, high and low, declare that this
peace has been disrupted by jealousy of German culture, German
efficiency, and German success. It is difficult to understand the
German logic, for wars do not lessen jealousy, envy, or race, or
national hate. They only increase the jealousy and put peace further
away than before, unless there is real conquest, division, and
absorption.

Bismarck declared in 1867 that he was opposed to any war upon France,
and that if the military party convinced him of ability to crush France
and occupy Paris, he would be unalterably opposed to the attack. For,
said he, one war with France is only the first of at least six, and
were we victorious in all six, it would only mean ruin for Germany, and
for her neighbor and best customer.

"Do you think a poor, bankrupt, starving, ragged neighbor as desirable
as a healthy, solvent, fat, well-clothed one?" demanded Bismarck.

France attacked Germany in 1870 and found her well-prepared armies
impregnable. Many believe that the Allies will find the German
trench-defences now impregnable. I do not think the Allies will pay
the price in human sacrifice to invade Germany from the west. The
break-up of Germany is more likely to come from her exhaustion and the
weakness of Austria, against which the pressure will be steadily
increased. But what follows the war is most important. If the
victorious or defeated nations are to go on arming, they will go on
warring to the extent that there be left in the world no small nations
and no unfortified area.

If Germany is to grow other navies, and England is still to build two
for one, North and South America must