The War—and After

Abstract

THE terrible war which is now raging, not only near our shores, but also much further afield, is teaching us many lessons, among them that the things which make most for a nation's life are apt not to be considered by the partisans of party politics. But it also shows that the British nation is sound enough at heart to throw off the trammels of party politics when a supreme moment arrives. Such a supreme moment is now on us and Britain is struggling for life with a foe who now shows his true colours. Many of us have been great admirers of Germany and German achievements along many lines, but we have now learned that her “culture” and admirable organisation have not been acquired, as we do not doubt was thought by the workers themselves, for the purpose of advancing knowledge and civilisation, but, in continuation of a settled policy, they have been fostered and used in order that a military caste in Germany, with the Kaiser at its head, shall ride roughshod over Europe, all treaties and national rights abrogated, all conventions set aside, all honour thrown to the winds, all laws of war and even of humanity disregarded. We are back in the days of the Huns. There is no doubt that in the complete plan of the great schemer the conquest and subsequent effacement of Britain were included.