No one can foresee future developments, least of all while such a war as the present is still in progress. Hence it is not impossible that pacifist tendencies, based upon motives of utility, may gain currency to a certain degree, but they will not conduce to the betterment of humanity. We find it impossible to believe in the realisation of genuine pacifist ideals, such as are cherished by well-meaning sentimentalists. Only a spiritual transformation of the human race could bring this about, and how far we are from any such transformation has been revealed by the War. Therefore, in regard to this question, we should pay less heed to the phrases of present-day prophets than to the views of old and truly wise men. We must not put might before right, but equally little shall we and can we dispense with might. In the future, as in the past, the German people will have to seek firm cohesion in its glorious army and in its belaurelled young fleet. [1] Heinrich v. Treitschke. _Politics_, vol. i., pp. 20-21. London, Constable & Co., Ltd.; New York, The Macmillan Company. [_Politik_, i., p. 30.] [2] Fredrik Böök. _Deutschland und Polen_, p. 14. Munich, 1917. [3] Heinrich von Treitschke. _Politics_, vol. i., p. xl. London, Constable & Co., Ltd.; New York, The Macmillan Company. [_Politik_, i., p. 9.] [4] Heinrich von Treitschke. _Politics_, vol. i., p. 19. London, Constable & Co., Ltd.; New York, The Macmillan Company. [_Politik_, i., p. 29.]