Later on, those who have been pillaged will rise up in their
wrath. More wars! . . . We do not want conquests. We desire to regain
Alsace and Lorraine, for their inhabitants wish to return to us . . .
and nothing more. We shall not imitate the enemy, appropriating
territory and jeopardizing the peace of the world. We had enough of that
with Napoleon; we must not repeat that experience. We are going to fight
for our immediate security, and at the same time for the security of
the world--for the life of the weaker nations. If this were a war
of aggression, of mere vanity, of conquest, then we Socialists would
bethink ourselves of our anti-militarism. But this is self-defense, and
the government has not been at fault. Since we are attacked, we must be
united in our defensive."
The carpenter, who was also anti-clerical, was now showing a more
generous tolerance, an amplitude of ideas that embraced all mankind. The
day before he had met at the administration office a Reservist who was
just leaving to join his regiment. At a glance he saw that this man was
a priest.
"I am a carpenter," he had said to him, by way of introduction, "and
you, comrade, are working in the churches?"
He employed this figure of speech in order that the priest might not
suspect him of anything offensive. The two had clasped hands.
"I do not take much stock in the clerical cowl," Robert explained
to Desnoyers.
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