Yes! the barbarous, brutal relations which once prevailed between individuals, which prevailed still longer between communities composing nations, are not yet banished from the great Christian Commonwealth. Religion, reason, humanity, first penetrate the individual, next larger bodies, and, widening in influence, slowly leaven nations. Thus, while condemning the bloody contests of individuals, also of towns, counties, principalities, provinces, and denying to all these the right of _waging war_, or of appeal to _Trial by Battle_, we continue to uphold an atrocious _System_ of folly and crime, which is to nations what the System of Petty Wars was to towns, counties, principalities, provinces, also what the Duel was to individuals: for _War is the Duel of Nations_.[303] As from Pluto's throne flowed those terrible rivers, Styx, Acheron, Cocytus, and Phlegethon, with lamenting waters and currents of flame, so from this established System flow the direful tides of War. "Give them Hell," was the language written on a slate by an American officer, speechless from approaching death. "Ours is a damnable profession," was the confession of a veteran British general. "War is the trade of barbarians," exclaimed Napoleon, in a moment of truthful remorse, prompted by his bloodiest field. Alas! these words are not too strong. The business of War cannot be other than the trade of barbarians, cannot be other than a damnable profession; and War itself is certainly Hell on earth. But forget not, bear always in mind, and let the idea sink deep into your souls, animating you to constant endeavor, that this trade of barbarians, this damnable profession, is part of the War System, sanctioned by International Law,--and that War itself is Hell, recognized, legalized, established, organized, by the Commonwealth of Nations, for the determination of international questions! [303] Plautus speaks in the _Epidicus_ (Act III. Sc. iv. 14, 15) of one who obtained great riches by the _Duelling Art_, meaning the Art of War:-- "_Arte duellica_ Divitias magnas indeptum." And Horace, in his Odes (Lib. IV. Carm. xv. 4-9), hails the age of Augustus, as at peace, or _free from Duels_, and with the Temple of Janus closed:-- "Tua, Cæsar, ætas ... vacuum _duellis_ Janum Quirini clausit." * * * * *