按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
in the background； and as a field of study and of action is as well
adapted to men as to women。 There is no reason whatever why men should
not develop great ability in this department of ethics； and gradually
learn how to preserve the safety； peace and prosperity of their nation；
together with those other services as to resources； protection of
citizens； and improvement of morals。
Men； as human beings； are capable of the noblest devotion and efficiency
in these matters； and have often shown them； but their devotion and
efficiency have been marred in this； as in so many other fields； by the
constant obtrusion of an ultra…masculine tendency。
In warfare； _per se_； we find maleness in its absurdest extremes。 Here
is to be studied the whole gamut of basic masculinity； from the initial
instinct of combat； through every form of glorious ostentation； with the
loudest possible accompaniment of noise。
Primitive warfare had for its climax the possession of the primitive
prize； the female。 Without dogmatising on so remote a period； it may be
suggested as a fair hypothesis that this was the very origin of our
organized raids。 We certainly find war before there was property in
land； or any other property to tempt aggressors。 Women； however； there
were always； and when a specially androcentric tribe had reduced its
supply of women by cruel treatment； or they were not born in sufficient
numbers； owing to hard conditions； men must needs go farther afield
after other women。 Then； since the men of the other tribes naturally
objected to losing their main labor supply and comfort； there was war。
Thus based on the sex impulse； it gave full range to the combative
instinct； and further to that thirst for vocal exultation so exquisitely
male。 The proud bellowings of the conquering stag； as he trampled on
his prostrate rival； found higher expression in the 〃triumphs〃 of old
days； when the conquering warrior returned to his home； with victims
chained to his chariot wheels； and braying trumpets。
When property became an appreciable factor in life； warfare took on a
new significance。 What was at first mere destruction； in the effort to
defend or obtain some hunting ground or pasture； and； always； to secure
the female； now coalesced with the acquisitive instinct； and the long
black ages of predatory warfare closed in upon the world。
Where the earliest form exterminated； the later enslaved； and took
tribute； and for century upon century the 〃gentleman adventurer；〃 i。e。；
the primitive male； greatly preferred to acquire wealth by the simple
old process of taking it； to any form of productive industry。
We have been much misled as to warfare by our androcentric literature。
With a history which recorded nothing else； a literature which praised
and an art which exalted it； a religion which called its central power
〃the God of Battles〃never the God of Workshops； mind you！with a
whole complex social structure man…prejudiced from center to
circumference； and giving highest praise and honor to the Soldier； it is
still hard for its to see what warfare really is in human life。
Someday we shall have new histories written； histories of world
progress； showing the slow uprising； the development； the interservice
of the nations； showing the faint beautiful dawn of the larger spirit of
world…consciousness； and all its benefitting growth。
We shall see people softening； learning； rising； see life lengthen with
the possession of herds； and widen in rich prosperity with agriculture。
Then industry； blossoming； fruiting； spreading wide； art； giving light
and joy； the intellect developing with companionship and human
intercourse； the whole spreading tree of social progress； the trunk of
which is specialized industry； and the branches of which comprise every
least and greatest line of human activity and enjoyment。 This growing
tree； springing up wherever conditions of peace and prosperity gave it a
chance； we shall see continually hewed down to the very root by war。
To the later historian will appear throughout the ages； like some
Hideous Fate； some Curse； some predetermined check； to drag down all our
hope and joy and set life forever at its first steps over again； this
Red Plague of War。
The instinct of combat； between males； worked advantageously so long as
it did not injure the female or the young。 It is a perfectly natural
instinct； and therefore perfectly right； in its place； but its place is
in a pre…patriarchal era。 So long as the animal mother was free and
competent to care for herself and her young； then it was an advantage to
have 〃the best man win；〃 that is the best stag or lion； and to have the
vanquished die； or live in sulky celibacy； was no disadvantage to any
one but himself。
Humanity is on a stage above this plan。 The best man in the social
structure is not always the huskiest。 When a fresh horde of ultra…male
savages swarmed down upon a prosperous young civilization； killed off
the more civilized males and appropriated the more civilized females；
they did； no doubt； bring in a fresh physical impetus to the race； but
they destroyed the civilization。
The reproduction of perfectly good savages is not the main business of
humanity。 Its business is to grow； socially； to develop； to improve；
and warfare； at its best； retards human progress； at its worst；
obliterates it。
Combat is not a social process at all； it is a physical process； a
subsidiary sex process； purely masculine； intended to improve the
species by the elimination of the unfit。 Amusingly enough； or absurdly
enough； when applied to society； it eliminates the fit； and leaves the
unfit to perpetuate the race！
We require； to do our organized fighting； a picked lot of vigorous young
males； the fittest we can find。 The too old or too young； the sick；
crippled； defective； are all left behind； to marry and be fathers； while
the pick of the country； physically； is sent off to oppose the pick of
another country； and killkillkill！
Observe the result on the population！ In the first place the balance is
brokenthere are not enough men to go around； at home； many women are
left unmated。 In primitive warfare； where women were promptly enslaved；
or； at the best； polygamously married； this did not greatly matter to
the population； but as civilization advances and monogamy obtains；
whatever eugenic benefits may once have sprung from warfare are
completely lost； and all its injuries remain。
In what we innocently call 〃civilized warfare〃 （we might as well speak
of 〃civilized cannibalism！〃）； this steady elimination of the fit leaves
an everlowering standard of parentage at home。 It makes a widening
margin of what we call 〃surplus women；〃 meaning more than enough to be
monogamously married； and these women； not being economically
independent； drag steadily upon the remaining men； postponing marriage；
and increasing its burdens。
The birth rate is lowered in quantity by the lack of husbands； and
lowered in quality both by the destruction of superior stock； and by the
wide dissemination of those diseases which invariably accompany the
wife…lessness of the segregated males wh