war and the future-第44章
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harder to think than to let go in a shrill storm of hostility。
The rational pacifist is hampered not only by belligerency; but
by a sort of malignant extreme pacifism as impatient and silly as
the extremest patriotism。
5
I sketch out these ideas of a world pacification from a third…
party standpoint; because I find them crystallising out in men's
minds。 I note how men discuss the suggestion that America may
play a large part in such a permanent world pacification。 There
I end my account rendered。 These things are as much a part of my
impression of the war as a shell…burst on the Carso or the yellow
trenches at Martinpuich。 But I do not know how opinion is going
in America; and I am quite unable to estimate the power of these
new ideas I set down; relative to the blind forces of instinct
and tradition that move the mass of mankind。 On the whole I
believe more in the reason…guided will…power of men than I did in
the early half of 1914。 If I am doubtful whether after all this
war will 〃end war;〃 I think on the other hand it has had such an
effect of demonstration that it may start a process of thought
and conviction; it may sow the world with organisations and
educational movements considerable enough to grapple with an
either arrest or prevent the next great war catastrophe。 I am by
no means sure even now that this is not the last great war in the
experience of men。 I still believe it may be。
The most dangerous thing in the business so far is concerned is
the wide disregard of the fact that national economic fighting is
bound to cause war; and the almost universal ignorance of the
necessity of subjecting shipping and overseas and international
trade to some kind of international control。 These two things;
restraint of trade and advantage of shipping; are the chief
material causes of anger between modern states。 But they would
not be in themselves dangerous things if it were not for the
exaggerated delusions of kind and difference; and the crack…
brained 〃loyalties〃 arising out of these; that seem still to rule
men's minds。 Years ago I came to the conviction that much of the
evil in human life was due to the inherent vicious disposition of
the human mind to intensify classification。'*See my 〃First and
Last Things;〃 Book I。 and my 〃Modern Utopia;〃 Chapter X。' I do
not know how it will strike the reader; but to me this war; this
slaughter of eight or nine million people; is due almost entirely
to this little; almost universal lack of clear…headedness; I
believe that the share of wickedness in making war is quite
secondary to the share of this universal shallow silliness of
outlook。 These effigies of emperors and kings and statesmen that
lead men into war; these legends of nationality and glory; would
collapse before our universal derision; if they were not stuffed
tight and full with the unthinking folly of the common man。
There is in all of us an indolent capacity for suffering evil and
dangerous things; that I contemplate each year of my life with a
deepening incredulity。 I perceive we suffer them; I record the
futile protests of the intelligence。 It seems to me incredible
that men should not rise up out of this muddy; bloody; wasteful
mess of a world war; with a resolution to end for ever the shams;
the prejudices; the pretences and habits that have impoverished
their lives; slaughtered our sons; and wasted the world; a
resolution so powerful and sustained that nothing could withstand
it。
But it is not apparent that any such will arises。 Does it appear
at all? I find it hard to answer that question because my own
answer varies with my mood。 There are moods when it seems to me
that nothing of the sort is happening。 This war has written its
warning in letters of blood and flame and anguish in the skies of
mankind for two years and a half。 When I look for the collective
response to that warning; I see a multitude of little chaps
crawling about their private ends like mites in an old cheese。
The kings are still in their places; not a royal prince has been
killed in this otherwise universal slaughter; when the fatuous
portraits of the monarchs flash upon the screen the widows and
orphans still break into loyal song。 The ten thousand religions
of mankind are still ten thousand religions; all busy at keeping
men apart and hostile。 I see scarcely a measurable step made
anywhere towards that world kingdom of God; which is; I assert;
the manifest solution; the only formula that can bring peace to
all mankind。 Mankind as a whole seems to have learnt nothing and
forgotten nothing in thirty months of war。
And then on the other hand I am aware of much quiet talking。
This book tells of how I set out to see the war; and it is
largely conversation。。。。 Perhaps men have always expected
miracles to happen; if one had always lived in the night and only
heard tell of the day; I suppose one would have expected dawn to
come as a vivid flash of light。 I suppose one would still think
it was night long after the things about one had crept out of the
darkness into visibility。 In comparison with all previous wars
there has been much more thinking and much more discussion。 If
most of the talk seems to be futile; if it seems as if everyone
were talking and nobody doing; it does not follow that things are
not quietly slipping and sliding out of their old adjustments
amidst the babble and because of the babble。 Multitudes of men
must be struggling with new ideas。 It is reasonable to argue
that there must be reconsideration; there must be time; before
these millions of mental efforts can develop into a new
collective purpose and really /show/in consequences。
But that they will do so is my hope always and; on the whole;
except in moods of depression and impatience; my belief。 When
one has travelled to a conviction so great as mine it is
difficult to doubt that other men faced by the same universal
facts will not come to the same conclusion。 I believe that only
through a complete simplification o religion to its fundamental
idea; to a world…wide realisation of God as the king of the heart
and of all mankind; setting aside monarchy and national egotism
altogether; can mankind come to any certain happiness and
security。 The precedent of Islam helps my faith in the creative
inspiration of such a renascence of religion。 The Sikh; the
Moslem; the Puritan have shown that men can fight better for a
Divine Idea than for any flag or monarch in the world。 It seems
to me that illusions fade and effigies lose credit everywhere。
It is a very wonderful thing to me that China is now a
republic。。。。 I take myself to be very nearly an average man;
abnormal only by reason of a certain mental rapidity。 I conceive
myself to be thinking as the world thinks; and if I find no great
facts; I find a hundred little indications to reassure me that
God comes。 Even those who have neither the imagination nor the
faith to apprehend God as a reality will; I think; realise
presently that the Kingdom of God over a world…wide system of
republican states; is the only possible formula under which we
may hope to unify and save mankind。
End