never again-第4章

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Such　Federation　when　firmly　consolidated　might；　it　is　not　unlikely；
still　retain　for　a　long　period　a　military　system；　of　some　kind；
if　only　for　its　own　protection　against　outlying　and　non　European
dangers；　but　that　military　system　would　be　small　and　secondary。
It　right　reasonably　be　no　more　dominant　or　meddlesome　than　the
military　system　of　China　has　been　during　the　last　thousand　years
in　comparison　with　the　massive　imperturbability　of　the　great
Chinese　Empire　itself。

Meanwhile　let　us　remember　how　important　it　is　for　the　future　of
the　world　that　each　nation　and　people　should　be　free　to　contribute
its　special　quality　and　character　to　the　whole；　nor　be　ridden…over
roughshod　by　the　others；

That　each　should　contribute；　in　Trade　or　otherwise；　its　special
gifts　or　facilities；　and　that　the　Internationalism　which　already
rules　in　labour　affairs　and　in　Commerce　and　Science　and　Fashion
and　Finance　and　Philanthropy　and　Literature　and　Art　and　Music；
should　at　last　be　recognized　in　Politics。

Let　us　further　remember　how　important　it　is　that　every　man　and　woman
should　insist　on　the　rights　of　Personality　to　preserve　sacred　his
or　her　most　intimate　sense　of　selfness　and　duty　the　very；
essence　of　Freedom。

Though　I　do　not；　for　instance；　think　that　a　refusal　to　fight
under　any　condition　or　circumstance　can　reasonably　be　maintained
to　its　logical　conclusion；　and　though　I　certainly　would　not　engage
myself　to　refuse　to　fight　in　any　and　every　case。　　Still；　I　do
honour　and　respect　the　genuine　conscientious　objectors　（of　whom
there　are　great　numbers）　very　sincerely。

Some　of　them　may；　be　narrow…minded　and　faddist　（as　conscience　often　is）；
but　let　us　remember　that　the　great　things　of　History　have　been
initiated　by　such　folk。

It　was　they　who　barred　and　broke　the　gladiatorial　games　at　Rome；
it　was　they；　who；　steered　the　〃Mayflower〃　across　the　Atlantic；
and　started　the　great　Republic　of　the　United　States；

And　it　is　they；　who　are　possibly　sowing　the　seed　a　great　Movement
which　will　spread　all　over　Europe；　and　ultimately　by　opposing
compulsory　military　service　inaugurate　a　world…era　of　Peace。
（For　certainly；　without　Conscription　the　Continental　Powers　would
never　have　become　involved　in　the　present　war）

Let　us　recognize　the　right　and　the　duty　of　each　man　to　ponder　these
world…problems　for　himself：　to　play　his　part　and　to　make　his　own
voice　heard　in　the　solution　of　them。

Let　us　recognize　the　falsity　of　Science　divorced　from　the　Heart；
and　begin　to…day　to　create　a　political；　an　economic；　and　a　material
world　which　shall　be　the　true　and　satisfying　expression　of　the　real
human　soul；

Let　us　acknowledge　even　at　the　last　that　the　War　may　have　been
a；　necessary　evil　to　show　us　by　contrast　the　way；　of　deliverance；

Let　us　render；　homage　to　those　who　have　given　their　lives　in　it；
let　us　vow　that　their　great　sacrifice　shall　not　be　in　vain；　but
shall　consecrate　for　us　a　new　purpose　and　a　new　ideal；

Let　us　believe　that　Love；　not　Hatred；　is　the　power　by　which　in　the
end　the　World　will　be　saved；

And　let　us　pray　that　a　Heroism　equal　to　that；　shown　to…day　in　the
cause　of　Destruction　may　urge　us　in　the　future　towards　a　great
and　glorious　Constructive　era　in　social　life　　and　inspire　us
with　a　new　hope：

Out　of　purgatory　to　build　a　paradise；　in　which　the　ugliness；
vulgarity；　sordidness　and　cruelty　of　the　present　scheme　of　things
will　be　repeated。

August　1916







End