These obligations can only be met by a vigorous, resolute, active policy, which follows definite ideas, and understands how to arouse and concentrate all the living forces of the State, conscious of the truth of Schiller’s lines: 

  “The chance that once thou hast refused
  Will never through the centuries recur.”

The verdict of history will condemn the statesman who was unable to take the responsibility of a bold decision, and sacrificed the hopes of the future to the present need of peace.

It is obvious that under these circumstances it is extremely difficult to answer the question whether in any special case conditions exist which justify the determination to make war.  The difficulty is all the greater because the historical significance of the act must be considered, and the immediate result is not the final criterion of its justification.

War is not always the final judgment of Heaven.  There are successes which are transitory while the national life is reckoned by centuries.  The ultimate verdict can only be obtained by the survey of long epochs.[M]

[Footnote M:  Treitschke, “Politik,” i., p 2.] 54 The man whose high and responsible lot is to steer the fortunes of a great State must be able to disregard the verdict of his contemporaries; but he must be all the clearer as to the motives of his own policy, and keep before his eyes, with the full weight of the categorical imperative, the teaching of Kant:  “Act so that the maxim of thy will can at the same time hold good as a principle of universal legislation.” [N]

[Footnote N:  Kant, “Kritik der praktischen Vernuft,” p. 30.]

He must have a clear conception of the nature and purpose of the State, and grasp this from the highest moral standpoint.  He can in no other way settle the rules of his policy and recognize clearly the laws of political morality.

He must also form a clear conception of the special duties to be fulfilled by the nation, the guidance of whose fortunes rests in his hands.  He must clearly and definitely formulate these duties as the fixed goal of statesmanship.  When he is absolutely clear upon this point he can judge in each particular case what corresponds to the true interests of the State; then only can he act systematically in the definite prospect of smoothing the paths of politics, and securing favourable conditions for the inevitable conflicts; then only, when the hour for combat strikes and the decision to fight faces him, can he rise with a free spirit and a calm breast to that standpoint which Luther once described in blunt, bold language:  “It is very true that men write and say often what a curse war is.  But they ought to consider how much greater is that curse which is averted by war.  Briefly, in the business of war men must not regard the massacres, the burnings, the battles, and the marches, etc.—­that is what the petty and simple do who only look with the eyes of children at the surgeon, how he cuts off the hand or saws off the leg, but do not see or notice that he does it in order to save the whole body.  Thus we must look at the business of war or the sword with the eyes of men, asking, Why these murders and horrors?  It will be shown that it is a business, divine in itself, and as needful and necessary to the world as eating or drinking, or any other work."[O]