“Our international policy is always to promote peace. We shall enter into any war with a full consciousness of the awful consequences that it always entails, whether successful or not, and we, of course, shall make every effort consistent with national honor and the highest national interest to avoid a resort to arms. We favor every instrumentality, like that of the Hague Tribunal and arbitration treaties made with a view to its use in all international controversies, in order to maintain peace and to avoid war. But we should be blind to existing conditions and should allow ourselves to become foolish idealists if we did not realize that, with all the nations of the world armed and prepared for war, we must be ourselves in a similar condition, in order to prevent other nations from taking advantage of us and of our inability to defend our interests and assert our rights with a strong hand.”
William Howard Taft
They exited Columbus Circle and started to walk down Central Park West. They didn’t make it very far.
“Why are there barriers around this building?” Alexander asked.
“It is a security precaution.”
“For what threat?”
“The leader of the nation owns this building.”
“Is he here now?”
“No, he doesn’t spend much time here.”
“Why not, is he off on military campaign?”
“No, that’s not really done anymore.”
“There are no more military campaigns?”
“No, there are still wars, but the leader of the country doesn’t lead them.”
“Why would you grant power to a man who is incapable of leading an army in battle?”
“Times have changed.”
“No king leads his army now?”
“Kings are also a thing of the past.”
“How are you governed?”
“By the consent of the people. Democracy.”
“It is folly. Not even Athens could maintain a democracy. You paved the way the way for tyrants. Thinking democracy could work.”
“It has worked for hundreds of years.” Adell said as they continued to look at the President’s ...
“From the first day to this, sheer greed was the driving spirit of civilization.”
Friedrich Engels
