WHY SHOULD THE NATIONS WAGE WAR?
[To THE EDITOR OP THE "SPECTATOR."] SIB.,—On p. 47 of your little book, " A. New Way of Life," in the chapter " Why Should the Nations Wage War?" after saying, truly enough, that war is a terrible evil, you add :-- " That it dominates the world as it does is a riddle which we have not the power to solve, and which we will make no pretence at explaining."
Did not Pascal, some two hundred and fifty years ago, go far to show that the answer to this riddle is a question of meum and tuum.
"Ce chien est k moi, disaient ces pauvres enfants ; c'est lk, ma place as solcil. Voilat le commencement et a de l'usurpa- tion de toute la terre."—"Pensees de Pascal," by Ernest Havet, Second Edition, Vol. I., P. 85.
The question of meum and fuica—of usurpation—is a very disputable one, for it covers so much ; but it seems to me that here Pascal, in his best and large-souled manner, has got to the source of the difficulty. Children rage furiously enough sometimes amongst themselves, but authority has generally the power to stop their disputes. Amongst nations, the rulers or the people will recognise no authority,—hence the recourse to arms. And so it probably will be as long as there are men upon the earth. Therefore, as you say, Sir, a few pages later in your book, our English motto should be : "Prepare, Prepare, and again Prepare."—I am, Sir, &e.,
- HENRY M. TEOLLOPE.
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