masses of the American people, while loyally submitting to the call for service, are still bewildered as to their just relations to the stupendous conflict. The very soul of America is to be tested. For half a century it has known no conflict of any magnitude. In the meantime it has grown rich beyond the dream of avarice. Its great wealth has been estimated by the amazing total of $250,000,000,000. Its annual income is greater than the entire wealth of the country when Lincoln issued his call to arms in April, 1861. Its position is that of the husbandman, referred to by the great Teacher, whose fields had yielded such superabundant crops that he tore down his grainaries to build larger barns to store the surplus product and then complacently said to himself: "Take thine ease. Eat, drink, and be merry." It was that night that the Lord of the husbandman said: "This night thy soul shall be required of thee." At this hour the soul of America is about to be tested by the willingness and heroic joy with which it enters into the noblest and most vital struggle ever fought for the basic principles of Civilization. America has hitherto never failed at the end. Its stumbling and slowness are the characteristics of a democracy. It has been handicapped by obsolete traditions and its very soul poisoned by false teachings. Nevertheless the author, as one who loves his country, cherishes the belief that America, as an eagle, will" mew her mighty youth" and "kindle her undazzled eyes at the full midday beam" and that she will, a very "noble and puissant nation," rouse herself like a strong man after sleep and will thus realize a greater and nobler democratic commonwealth than even the sublime vision of Milton could dream of in his most inspired fancy. NEW YORK, June 5, 1917. JAMES M. BECK. The world-old phenomenon of war-Christ's prediction- The insoluble problem-The increasing horrors of war-The great disillusion-The present anarchy of civilization-Not caused by economic conditions- The responsibility of democracy-The socialists of Germany—The effect upon war of modern inventions -International morality and increased facilities of intelligence-The problem of post bellum reparation- An international tribunal for punitive justice—Inter- national arbitration-Justice higher than peace- Limitations of international arbitration as a remedy- The present attitude of European nations to America- unpreparedness when world war began-Its vulner- ability to foreign attack-Views of its General Staff- Dangers of the future-The new alignment of na- tions-The terrible character of future wars-The changes in methods-France's débâcle in 1870- Russia's great disasters, due to unpreparedness- America's lack of vision-Its insular spirit-Its paro- chial politics-Influence of the Washington tradition— Its superficial scholastic education—Its dangerous PAGE THE FOREIGN POLICY OF PRESIDENT WASHINGTON The great influence of the Washington tradition-The great misinterpretation of Washington's views-The greatness of his personality-The tribute of the world- The condition of the world when Washington became President-Its remarkable similarity to the present world crisis-Washington's foreign policy defined- His policy of neutrality predicated upon temporary conditions-His prophetic recognition of America's future power and influence-His views as to alliances with foreign Powers-Did he favour a permanent isola- tion?-Washington's disregard of past traditions— The evolution of American history-The disregard of successive generations of past traditions—America too great for any fixed tradition-Washington's true The anniversary of the Lusitania's destruction-America's |