“Should be, but are not—”
“‘The present moment would be very favorable for seeking, by means of international discussion, the most effectual means of insuring to all peoples the benefits of a real and lasting peace,—’”
“That article must be by Passy or one of our friends.”
“What a clever guess!—‘and, above all, of putting an end to the progressive development of armaments.’”
“Well, indeed—”
“‘Hundreds of millions are devoted to acquiring terrible engines of destruction, which are destined to-morrow to lose all value in consequence of some fresh discovery in this field.’”
“That is nothing new.”
“‘National culture, economic progress, and the production of wealth are either paralyzed, or checked in their development. Economic crises, brought on in great measure by the system of developing armaments to the utmost, and the constant danger that lies in this massing of war material, are transforming the armies of our days into a crushing burden which the peoples have more and more difficulty in bearing.’”
“That article must have been written by a social democrat!”
“More clever than before!—‘It appears evident, then, that if this state of things is to be prolonged it will inevitably lead to the very catastrophe which it is desired to avert, and the very thought of whose horrors makes every man shudder.’”