love of glory apart from motives of self-interest. Hence, among the
savages of America as well as those of Europe in the age of chivalry,
martial courage is looked upon as of great value itself, not merely
when a war is going on, as is reasonable enough, but in order that
there should be war: and thus war is often entered upon merely to
exhibit this quality. So that an intrinsic dignity is held to attach
to war in itself, and even philosophers eulogise it as an ennobling,
refining influence on humanity, unmindful of the Greek proverb, “War
is evil, in so far as it makes more bad people than it takes away.”
[139] About 1000 English miles.
[140] The question might be put:—“If it is nature’s will that
these Arctic shores should not remain unpopulated, what will
become of their inhabitants, if, as is to be expected, at some
time or other no more driftwood should be brought to them? For
we may believe that, with the advance of civilisation, the
inhabitants of temperate zones will utilise better the wood which
grows on the banks of their rivers, and not let it fall into the
stream and so be swept away.” I answer: the inhabitants of the
shores of the River Obi, the Yenisei, the Lena will supply them
with it through trade, and take in exchange the animal produce in
which the seas of Arctic shores are so rich—that is, if nature
has first of all brought about peace among them.
[141] Cf. _Enc. Brit._ (9th ed.), art. “Indians”, in which there
is an allusion to “Fuegians, the _Pescherais_” of some writers.
[Tr.]
So much, then, of what nature does for her own ends with regard
to the human race as members of the animal world. Now comes the
question which touches the essential points in this design of a
perpetual peace:—“What does nature do in this respect with reference
to the end which man’s own reason sets before him as a duty? and
consequently what does she do to further the realisation of his
moral purpose? How does she guarantee that what man, by the laws of
freedom, ought to do and yet fails to do, he will do, without any
infringement of his freedom by the compulsion of nature and that,
moreover, this shall be done in accordance with the three forms of
public right—constitutional or political law, international law and
cosmopolitan law?” When I say of nature that she _wills_ that this or
that should take place, I do not mean that she imposes upon us the
duty to do it—for only the free, unrestrained, practical reason can
do that—but that she does it herself, whether we will or not. “_Fata
volentem ducunt, nolentem trahunt._”