Excerpt from The Conception and Realization of Neutrality: A Paper Read Before the American Social Science Association at Washington on April 23, 1902 So long as the Roman Empire continued to regulate the affairs of Europe, the idea of indifference to the conflicts in which it was engaged was impossible; for imperial unity involved all parts of the empire in active support of the wars by which Roman domin ion was maintained and extended. When, in the fourth and fifth centuries of our era, the imperial system began to go to pieces and the barbaric kingdoms were formed upon its ruins, no inter national system developed before the Frankish kingdom, extend ing its conquests in every direction and uniting its interests with those of papal Rome by the coronation of Charles the Great as Emperor of the West, had reconstituted the imperial power in Western Europe. The weakness and subdivision of that empire after the death of Charles the Great left the local barons to the chances of a general struggle for supremacy during the long period in which the process of feudalization was creating the beginnings of local territorial authority, destined at last to develop, in the heat of a bitter and protracted conflict, into the modern state system, in which the rights of local sovereignty were affirmed and the great nationalities became consolidated in the form of inde pendent monarchies. Then followed the struggle for a system of equilibrium by which the newly formed nations could maintain their independence, and prevent the revival of that imperial supremacy from which they had all escaped, a struggle in which all were compelled to participate as a means of preserving their existence. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Excerpt from Neutrality, an Address Delivered by William H. Taft Before the Washington Association of New Jersey Since we were last gathered Within these walls, two of the most momentous events of the centuries have occurred, almost simultaneously, - the commencement of the World's greatest war, and the completion of the Isthmian canal. Surely a strange contrast, - the superb ending of the mightiest struggle ever waged between man and nature and the beginning of the most terrible contest ever carried on between man and man. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.