The example of the Great Teacher, the practice of the early disciples, the injunctions of self-denial, love, non-resistance to evil,--sometimes supposed to forbid Force in any exigency, even of self-defence,--all these must apply with unquestionable certainty to the established System of War.
Sumner reflects on the teachings of Christianity and their implications for the concept of war.
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Without yielding to any of these extreme views with regard to the mischiefs or the benefits of party, all should agree that the only true and legitimate object of such an association is to uphold, advance, and develop certain principles…
Tendencies of nations, as revealed in history, teach that our aims are in harmony with prevailing laws, which God, in his benevolence, has ordained for mankind.
Their existence is a disgrace to civilization; for it implies the common consent of nations to the Arbitrament of War, as regulated by these laws.
Still further: every ship-of-war that floats costs more than a well-endowed college.
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