The Watch on the Rhine is of value just so far as it helps to clear our minds as to the true objectives that we are seeking. The soldiers have done their work well and truly in the war. Their task accomplished, its results have now passed largely into other hands. Our unworthiness and unfitness to carry so great a responsibility are but too painfully apparent. Yet the responsibility is there. The dead have in special measure left a sacrifice to be perfected. The torch fell lighted from their hands. Supreme shame would it be if it suffers extinction through the sordid ambitions and mean desires of men who live because other men have died. The threat of moral bankruptcy, real as it is, can only be averted through a steady devotion to ideal ends. Those ideal ends have been sung by one of our younger poets in words which, to me at least, sum up the faith I have endeavoured haltingly to express as regards the future: “This then is yours; to build exultingly High and yet more high The knowledgeable towers above base wars And sinful surges, reaching up to lay Dishonouring hands upon your work, and drag From their uprightness your desires to lag Among low places with a common gait. That so Man’s mind not conquered by his clay, May sit above his fate Inhabiting the purpose of the stars, And trade with his Eternity.” THE END FOOTNOTE: [1] Section iv. Part iii. TRANSCRIBER’S NOTES: Italicized text is surrounded by underscores: _italics_. Obvious typographical errors have been corrected. Inconsistencies in hyphenation have been standardized. Archaic or variant spelling has been retained. The cover image for this eBook was created by the transcriber using the original cover and is entered into the public domain.