The advocate of Political Theory No. 1, which an overwhelming preponderance of evidence shows to be the prevailing theory, says:--You Pacifists are asking us to commit national suicide; to sacrifice future generations to your political ideals. Now, as voters or statesmen we are trustees, we act for others. Sacrifice, suicide even, on behalf of an ideal, may be justified when we are sacrificing ourselves. But we cannot sacrifice others, our wards. Our first duty is to our own nation, our own children; to their national security and future welfare. It is regrettable if, by the conquests, wars, blockades, rendered necessary by those objects other people starve, and lose their national freedom and see their children die; but that is the hard necessity of life in a hard world. Advocate of Political Theory No. 2 says:--I deny that the excuse of justification which you give for your cruelty to others is a valid excuse or justification. Pacifism does not ask you to sacrifice your people, to betray the interest of your wards. You will serve their interests best by the policy we advocate. Your children will not be more assured of their sustenance by these conquests that attempt to render the feeding of foreign children more difficult; yours will be less secure. By co-operating with those others instead of using your energies against them, the resultant wealth.... Advocate No. 1:--Wealth! Interest! You introduce your wretched economic calculations of interest into a question of Patriotism. You have the soul of a bagman concerned only to restore 'the blessed hour of tranquil money-getting,' and Sir William Robertson Nicoll shall denounce you in the _British Weekly_! And the discussion usually ends with this moral flourish and gestures of melodramatic indignation. But are they honest gestures? Here are the upholders of a certain position who say:--'In certain circumstances as when you are in a position of trustee, the only moral course, the only right course, is to be guided by the interests of your ward. Your duty then demands a calculation of advantage. You may not be generous at your ward's expense. This is the justification of the "sacred egoism" of the poet.' If in that case a critic says: 'Very well. Let us consider what will be the best interests of your ward,' is it really open to the first party to explain in a paroxysm of moral indignation: 'You are making a shameful and disgraceful appeal to selfishness and avarice?'