A text-book of the war for Americans

Front matter

A TEXT-B001iT% WAR.

Class _Il£A3

Book

Preface To The "text-book"

The unexpected attention paid to my compilation and the rapid exhaustion of three editions has led me to add some chapters based on subsequent occurrences and on later writings, and to re-issue the so-called "Primer" in this new and amplified form. I have, however, tried to adhere to my original intent, which was that the book should derive any value it might have, rather from the collation an.d arrangement, in readable and logical form, of the writings of others, (chiefly of Americans), than from the expression of my own views.

This does not mean that I have not confidence in my views or that they are not fixed and decided, but merely that I recognize that there are very many others better qualified to speak authoritatively, and that when their opinions and mine coincide I am more effectively serving the cause I desire to help, by free quotation than by original pronouncement.

Many of the questions dealt with change from day to day in the form of their presentment to the public, but as to most of them there are underlying principles which can as well be maintained or opposed with reference to one set of facts as to another, just as specific test cases are submitted to a court, so that the decision may thenceforth apply to all similar cases. The effort to keep pace with the rapid march of current events, has precluded careful attention to literary form. Some of the matter- dealt with is of necessarily ephemeral character. The desire to present important questions, or questions involving broad principles, from different aspects, and as approached from dif-

(ix)

z PREFACE TO THE TEXT-BOOK

ferent sides or expressed in different language, has led to some repetition.

In spite of this, I venture to hope that as a compilation the book fairly and fully represents intelligent American opinion at this juncture, and that, for a time at least, it may have some value as a work of reference when, among Americans, the questions I have asked and tried to answer come up for discussion. With this idea in mind, I have added an "Index of Names," giving, when it is not given in the text itself, a brief identification of each person mentioned, so far as it was possible to do so. I have been compelled to omit a few of the German apologists because I could find nothing about them in any "Who's Who," or in any biographical dictionary, although I included in my search a "Dictionary of the Noted Names of Fiction."

In this edition are incorporated, in addition to much new matter, portions of a paper written in collaboration with Miss Agnes Eepplier; and a brief address delivered by me before The Contemporary Club of Philadelphia.

J. W. W.

What, in the light of this war, should be the aim of

this and other civilized countries for the future? 495