The German wars of Unification also belong to the category of wars which, in spite of a thousand sacrifices, bring forth a rich harvest.  The instability and political weakness which the Prussian Government showed in 1848, culminating in the disgrace of Olmuetz in 1850, had deeply shaken the political and national importance of Prussia.  On the other hand, the calm conscious strength with which she faced once more her duties as a nation, when King William I. and Bismarck were at the helm, was soon abundantly manifest.  Bismarck, by bringing about our wars of Unification in order to improve radically an untenable position and secure to our people healthy conditions of life, fulfilled the long-felt wish of the German people, and raised Germany to the undisputed rank of a first-class European Power.  The military successes and the political position won by the sword laid the foundation for an unparalleled material prosperity.  It is difficult to imagine how pitiable the progress of the German people would have been had not these wars been brought about by a deliberate policy.

The most recent history tells the same story.  If we judge the Japanese standpoint with an unbiased mind we shall find the resolution to fight Russia was not only heroic, but politically wise and morally justifiable.  It was immensely daring to challenge the Russian giant, but the purely military conditions were favourable, and the Japanese nation, which had rapidly risen to a high stage of civilization, needed an extended sphere of influence to complete her development, and to open new channels for her superabundant activities.  Japan, from her own point of view, was entitled to claim to be the predominant civilized power in Eastern Asia, and to repudiate the rivalry of Russia.  The Japanese statesmen were justified by the result.  The victorious campaign created wider conditions of life for the Japanese people and State, and at one blow raised it to be a determining co-factor in international politics, and gave it a political importance which must undeniably lead to great material advancement.  If this war had been avoided from weakness or philanthropic illusions, it is reasonable to assume that matters would have taken a very different turn.  The growing power of Russia in the Amur district and in Korea would have repelled or at least hindered the Japanese rival from rising to such a height of power as was attained through this war, glorious alike for military prowess and political foresight.

The appropriate and conscious employment of war as a political means has always led to happy results.  Even an unsuccessfully waged war may sometimes be more beneficial to a people than the surrender of vital interests without a blow.  We find an example of this in the recent heroic struggle of the small Boer States against the British Empire.  In this struggle they were inevitably defeated.  It was easy to foresee that an armed peasantry could not permanently