ABSTRACT
On the surface, at least, the civilization of today seems to be moving slowly toward two goals. One is the eternal renunciation of war and the other is universal brotherhood: one is “ peace on earth ” and the other is “ good will to men.” Five hundred years ago a statesman’s fame rested frankly and solely upon the victories of his armies; today we profess to measure him by his skill at keeping these armies in barracks. And in the internal economy of all civilized states we find today some pretence at unrestricted and equal suffrage. In times past it was the chief concern of all logicians and wiseacres to maintain the proposition that God reigned. At present, the dominant platitude of Christendom — the cornerstone of practically every political party and the stock-in- trade of every politician—is the proposition that the people rule.
