Practical Without Destroying

The first and loudest objection that seems to be made to this method of conciliation and co-operation is that it is not practical. I suppose by this the critics mean not practical on a political (large) scale. The most obvious, but most necessary, thing to say first in reply to this is: Assertion, aggression and violence have only been practical in the sense that they destroyed millions of people and dealt tremendous hardship, pain and suffering to millions more. Each of these last two sets of so-called "practical" measures have culminated in war, and have merely manufactured conditions in which the surge of more aggression and retaliation, the tendency towards another destructive war, is almost overpowering. Is not any alternative at all worthy of the most sincere trial, the most genuine and firm support; that each and every one of us can give?

Even could I draw you no further than this, I would urge that a vote against conscription has been Justified.