The War and Democracy

The War and Democracy

The Project Gutenberg EBook of The War and Democracy
by R.W. Seton-Watson, J. Dover Wilson, Alfred E. Zimmern, and
Arthur Greenwood
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Title: The War and Democracy
Authors: R.W. Seton-Watson, J. Dover Wilson, Alfred E. Zimmern,
and Arthur Greenwood
Release Date: January 10, 2004 [EBook #10668]
Language: English
Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
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THE WAR AND DEMOCRACY
by
R.W. SETON-WATSON, _D.Litt_. J. DOVER WILSON ALFRED E.
ZIMMERN and ARTHUR GREENWOOD

1915
* * * * * TO
The Workers' Educational Association
* * * * *
When wilt Thou save the people? O God of mercy, when? Not kings
and lords, but nations! Not thrones and crowns, but men! Flowers of
Thy heart, O God, are they; Let them not pass, like weeds, away-- Their
heritage a sunless day. God save the people!
EBENEZER ELLIOTT.
"To remake the map of Europe, and to rearrange the peoples in
accordance with the special mission assigned to each of them by
geographical, ethnical and historical conditions--this is the first
essential step for all."
MAZZINI (1832).
* * * * *

PREFACE
For many years past the prospect of universal war has haunted the
dreams of pacificists and militarists alike. Many of us, without denying
its growing menace, hoped against hope that it might be averted by the
gradual strengthening of international goodwill and mutual intercourse,
and the steady growth of democratic influences and political thought.
But our misgivings proved more prophetic than our hopes; and last
August the great war came upon us like a thief in the night. After four
months of war we feel that, in spite of the splendid response of the
nation at large, in spite of a unanimity which has no parallel in our
previous history, there are still large sections of the community who
fail to realise the vastness of the issues at stake, the formidable nature
of the forces ranged against us, and the true inner significance of the
struggle. And yet all that is worth living for depends upon the outcome
of this war--for ourselves the future of the democratic ideal in these
islands and in the British Empire at large, for the peoples of Europe
deliverance from competing armaments and the yoke of racial tyranny.
But before our future can be secured, sacrifices will be required of
every citizen, and in a free community sacrifice can only spring from
knowledge. Moreover, if we are to put an end to the intolerable
situation of an unwilling Europe in arms, public opinion must think out

very carefully the great problems which have been thrown into the
melting-pot and be prepared for the day of settlement.
The present volume has been written as a guide to the study of the
underlying causes and issues of the war. It does not pretend to cover the
whole of so vast a field, and it will have attained its aim if it provides
the basis for future discussion. It originated in the experience of its five
writers at the Summer Schools for working-class students held in
connection with the Workers' Educational Associations. In the early
days of August, at the outbreak of the war, Summer Schools were in
full swing at Oxford, Cambridge, Eton, Bangor, and Durham, and it at
once became apparent, not merely that the word "citizen" had suddenly
acquired a new depth and significance for the men and women of our
generation, but also that for the individual citizen himself a large new
field of study and discussion had been opened up on subjects and issues
hitherto unfamiliar. This book was planned to meet the need there
expressed, but it is hoped that it may be found useful by a wider circle
of readers.
We have called the book _The War and Democracy_, because our
guiding idea throughout has been the sense of the great new
responsibilities, both of thought and action, which the present situation
lays upon British Democracy and on believers in democracy
throughout the world.
In devoting one chapter to a survey of the issues raised for settlement
by the war, we must disclaim most emphatically all idea of dividing the
lion's skin before the animal has been killed. Our object has not been to
prophesy, but merely to stimulate thought and discussion. The field is
so vast and complicated that unless public opinion begins to mobilise
without further delay and to form clear