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2 existed and always will exist. A terrible evil, as some admitted, yet a necessary one. A struggle fruitful in results and beneficial to the world, said others, one which develops character and affords an outlet for human energy, and without which, to quote Field Marshal von Moltke, "nations would stagnate in the mud of the grossest materialism." Times have indeed changed. It would be hard to find nowadays among statesmen, members of parliament, or even in the army itself, men imprudent or impudent enough to wish to have ascribed to themselves the sentiments expressed by von Moltke, Bismarck, or Joseph de Maistre.

In every country there are soldiers who are ready to pour out their blood for their country, but if need should arise it would be seen that they are not the only ones who would courageously meet the sufferings and dangers which they could not avoid. " If we should ever be so unfortunate as to have another war," said Jules Simon once in my presence, "you would find that it is the friends of peace who make the best soldiers, but I hope we may never have occasion to put them to the test." Soldiers like Captain Tracasse, belligerents thirsting for blood, foolhardy persons ready to jeopardize the safety of their country upon the slightest provocation and who see nothing more noble than a glorious field of battle, scarcely exist any more, or, if they exist, they no longer dare to avow their sentiments openly. The opinion of the great majority of our people was expressed by Canrobert, the last of the marshals of France, when he wrote to the Inter-parliamentary Association, assembled at London in 1890, "You are quite right in laboring to put a stop to war. I know from experience that it is wretched business. Do not engage in it." And there are still others. Every day we see old army officers enrolling themselves in the army of peace, among whom more than one has, like artillery captain Gaston Moch, left his career to enjoy again the free use of voice and pen. Even in such newspapers as the France Militaire, or I'Avenir Militaire, to speak only of those of my own country, there is open revolt against the frightful progress which is being made in the art of destroying, and nothing but curses are bestowed upon those killing-