e, it may
again become necessary to remind the people that external favours may,
without harm, be extended to the military profession, and especially to
the officers."--Popular edition, London, 1914, p. 25.

{140}

CHAPTER XI

THE APPEAL OF IMPERIALISM

It is a significant fact that despite a democratic opposition to
imperialism it is precisely the democratic nations, England and France,
which are most imperialistic. The British public seems always willing
to make sacrifices to extend the Empire, and an almost equal enthusiasm
is found among great sections of the French democracy. Also in
Germany, when an election was fought in 1907 upon a colonial issue,
thousands who usually voted the Socialist ticket gave their adhesion to
the imperialists.

Such a popular adhesion is essential to the success of an imperialistic
policy. The masses need not be consulted upon the first steps but they
are urgently called into conference when trouble begins and
"pacification" or war is necessary. Your financier, with all his
money, is helpless against the rival ambitions of a great nation, and,
he must have the support of his own country, its navy, army, credit,
and millions of patriotic citizens. How is he to secure this support?

To understand the implications of this question we must consider the
changes in modern warfare and the rise of democracy in the Western
World. The mercenary soldiers once employed by absolutist princes
would go anywhere at any time and no questions asked. War was a game
played by small teams of professionals. To-day it is a national
conflict in which entire populations, old and young, male and female,
are pitted against each other. This fact gives {141} to the peoples a
passive quasi-veto upon war, for success in a crucial conflict depends
upon enthusiasm and supreme unity. To-day Germany would crumple if her
people were actively hostile or even merely listless towards the war.
It would be difficult to raise loans, to sequester goods, to ensure the
continuance of the industries upon which the nation and army live.
Victory depends upon the morale of the entire population. During the
war itself, it is true, a nation tends to lose its power of
self-criticism and to fight blindly. It defends proposals that in
peace would be indefencible; it works itself up to a pitch of righteous
self-justification. But war to-day is won before the first shot is
fired; it is won by preparation. An army