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THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
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One consequence of the ambition of world-conquest is the severish competition which has been going on among the different nations of the world, each one dreading the rivalry of others, and making greater and greater sacrifices to ensure superior efficiency, with the result that peace has become possible only by being armed to the teeth. Even now there is no guarantee that this system is likely to work satisfactorily, for the strongest army may be able to crush a single power, but it is too much to hope that it will be victorious against the whole world. The fear of a strong combination of enemies constantly spurs us to raise the standard of strength and efficiency of our forces, and necessitates the expenditure of large sums of money every year. But where is all this money to come from? Taxation engenders internal discontent, and, unless kept within reasonable bounds, must lead to strikes, agitation, rebellion, and even civil wars. It is bad politics, indeed, which prepares the national defences by impoverishing the people. The 'mailed fist’ policy, thus, cannot be expected to lead to any lasting peace and bappiness, and its success may be said to depend on the constant dread, on all hands, which prevents open rupture, till some one feels stronger than some one else, so that, instead of enjoying a sense of security and peace, we live in a state of perpetual dread, which we try to meet and counteract by spreading fear among others, in our own turn. It is painful to observe the enormous sums of money which are annually spent in providing and manufacturing special types of engines of destruction. Already men are groaning under the weight of
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