Nations act towards other nations as their own citizens act towards each
other. When slavery existed in a State, if that nation attacked another
it was with intent to enslave. Where there is a fierce economic
competition between citizen and citizen then in war with another nation,
the object of the war is to destroy the trade of the enemy. If the
citizens in any country could develop harmonious life among themselves
they would manifest the friendliest feelings towards the people of other
countries. We find that it is just among groups of people who aim at
harmonious life, co-operators and socialists, that the strongest
national impulses to international brotherhood arise; and wars of
domination are brought about by the will of those who within a State are
dominant over the fortunes of the rest. Ireland, a small country, can
only maintain its national identity by moral and economic forces.
Physically it must be overmastered by most other European nations.
Moral forces are really more powerful than physical forces. One Christ
changed the spiritual life of Europe; one Buddha affected more myriads
in Asia.
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