nations pursuing their immediate economic interests in
developing China.

{217}

CHAPTER XVI

PACIFISM STATIC AND DYNAMIC

If at home we have a firm basis for national development, if we grow up
as a Great Power beyond the range of fierce conflicts between the
nations, the opportunity will be offered us to contribute in some
degree to the ultimate establishment of peace, or at least to the
limitation of war, in the world outside. Our influence can be cast
upon the side of peace and augment the forces making for peace. Our
hope lies in a national development, which will permit us while
pursuing our larger national interests to work towards a great
community of interest among other nations.

In such an international peace the United States has a direct and an
indirect interest. It has been recently asserted that we in America
might regard the present war with equanimity since it brought us huge
profits. Undoubtedly there is money to be made out of the selling of
provisions and munitions as well as from trade in countries from which
competitors are temporarily excluded. On the other hand, the war means
the impoverishment of European nations, who are our main purveyors and
customers, and eventually the losses suffered by combatants must be
shared to some extent by us who are non-combatants. The war brings
about a dislocation of the world industry, a shrinking of capital, and
in the end higher prices and a possible reduction in real wages. {218}
In the years to come we shall be forced to pay our share of the cost.

Nor is this economic motive our sole reason for desiring international
peace. We are linked to the nations of Europe, and however we declaim
against "hyphenates," cannot prevent our immigrants from sympathising
with the land of their birth. The present straining of loyalties in
this country is a sufficient reason for our desiring peace in Europe.
Nor do we like bloodshed or the political reaction and the backwash of
barbarism that wars entail. Finally, however neutral we remain, there
is always the possibility that we may be plunged into a great European
conflict, in which in the beginning at least we shall have no direct
interest.

Diplomatically also, war in Europe is of no overwhelming advantage to
us. In the early days of the Republic, a constant balancing of hostile
forces prevented England and France from taking advantage of our
weakness. The quarrels of Europe enabled us to preser