Since our own political interest in the war in Europe is weak, we stand
naturally nearer to the standpoint of international morals and are
inclined to misinterpret the motives that sway the nations at war. We
should not deceive ourselves. It is only lack of immediate interest
that determines our attitude. Owing to our more isolated position on
the Western Hemisphere and to the great size of our country, we are
not so much exposed to the conflicts between our interests, real or
imaginary, and those of other nations.
Still we are no less eager than the nations of Europe to instil the
idea of the preponderance of national interest over human interest into
the minds of the young. We, too, teach rather the lessons of aggressive
nationalism than those of national idealism, expansion rather than
inner development, the admiration of warlike, heroic deeds rather
than of the object for which they were performed. Given a national
conflict, and the same unreasoning passions will sway our people that
are carrying Europe to the brink of ruin.
Those who look forward to the federation of nations must work together
to teach their ideals to the young, to teach that no nation has the
right to impose its individuality upon another one, that no war is
justifiable except for the defence of the threatened integrity of our
ideals.