Perpetual peace is a dream, and it is not even a beautiful dream.

War is an element in the order of the world ordained by God.

In it the noblest virtues of mankind are developed; courage and the abnegation of self, faithfulness to duty, and the spirit of sacrifice: the soldier gives his life.
Without war the world would stagnate, and lose itself in materialism.
"I agree entirely with the proposition contained in the introduction that a gradual softening of manners ought to be reflected also in the mode of making war.

But I go further, and think the softening of manners can alone bring about this result, which cannot be attained by a codification of the law of war.

Every law presupposes an authority to superintend and direct its execution, and international conventions are supported by no such authority.