PDF-file (The same edition. Another cover. 2.2 Mb)

600 War and Self-Determinationcome not from outside but from within. For they are the oldcontinued impulsions and obstinate recalcitrance of mankind’spast nature, the almost total subjection of its normal mind toegoistic, vital and material interests and ambitions which makenot for union but for strife and discord, the plausibilities ofthe practical reason which looks at the possibilities of the dayand the morrow and shuts its eyes to the consequences of theday after, the habits of pretence and fiction which impel menand nations to pursue and forward their own interest under thecamouflage of a specious idealism, a habit made up only partlyof the diplomatic hypocrisy of politicians, but much more ofa general half-voluntary self-deception, and, finally, the inrushof blinder unsatisfied forces and crude imperfect idealisms —of such is the creed of Bolshevism — to take advantage of theunrest and dissatisfaction prevalent in such times and lay holdfor a while on the life of mankind. It is these things which we seedominant around us and not in the least degree any effort to beof the right spirit and evolve from it the right method. The oneway out harped on by the modern mind which has been as muchblinded as enlightened by the victories of physical science, is theapproved western device of salvation by machinery; get the rightkind of machine to work and everything can be done, this seemsto be the modern creed. But the destinies of mankind cannot beturned out to order in an American factory. It is a subtler thingthan that which is now putting its momentous problem beforeus, and if the spirit of the things we profess is absent or falsified,no method or machinery can turn them out for us or deliver thepromised goods. That is the one truth which the scientific andindustrialised modern mind forgets always, because it looks atprocess and commodity and production and ignores the spirit inman and the deeper inner law of his being.The elimination of war is one of the cherished ideals andexpectations of the age. But what lies at the root of this desire?A greater unity of heart, sympathy, understanding betweenmen and nations, a settled will to get rid of national hatreds,greeds, ambitions, all the fertile seeds of strife and war? If so,it is well with us and success will surely crown our efforts. But