[Illustration: THE HISTORY OF IGNORANCE OBEYING ORDERS] “Base distrust, the red-eyed hound of hate, Rules in a world by phantom foes alarmed.” Everywhere we see the crowned and consecrated cut-throats preparing for war. Soon again the booming roar of “gun thunder” will terrify the world. Even now in Turkey, in Russia, in Spain and in Africa the blood of humble working class brothers is being splashed in the face of mankind. Rouse, brothers, rouse! Refuse! Refuse to paint this sad world red with the blood of the toilers fooled by the mocking flattery of gilded cowards. Let us force Senators, Congressmen, and Presidents—let us force Tsars, Emperors, Kings, Lords, Dukes and the Industrial Masters also—let us force every one of these shrewd, proud cowards into the bloody mire of the firing line and compel them to stay there till by spilling their own blood they learn what war is—for the working class. The capture of the powers of government by the working class for the working class—that is our first move. The _working_ class must defend the _working_ class. SECTION II: THE COST IN CASH. Remember—always remember: All the expenses of all the wars in all the world in all time have been paid with the results of productive labor. Always—finally—the working class pay all the expenses of all wars. In a war (1) Soldiers cease to produce wealth, (2) Soldiers continue to consume wealth, (3) Soldiers actively destroy wealth. A war involves three general items of expense; namely, Expenses before the war:—preparation Expenses during the war:—direct expenses, destruction of property, loss of producing power, etc. Expenses after the war:—pensions, interest on bonds, etc. “In determining the cost of a war,” says one writer,[36] “the items to be considered may be set down as follows: (1) Preparations for prospective wars (2) Direct expenditures (3) Indirect losses (a) Destruction and depreciation of property (b) Labor value wasted (c) Damage to trade (d) Displacement of capital (4) Subsequent expenditures (a) Compensation for property destroyed (b) Pensions and relief for the distressed (c) Interest on debt incurred (5) Deterioration of population (6) Moral results and effects on the vanquished.”