what they each claim to be the best, largest, most I enduring business interests of the community. The ring' of business interests which secures the broadest approval from popular sentiment is, under y constitutional methods, put in charge of the govlemment establishment. This popular approval may be secured on the ground of a sound business platform or (in part) on some ground extraneous to business policy proper, such as a wave of national animosity, a popular candidate, a large grain crop, etc. But the only secure basis of an enduring party tenure of the government machinery is a business policy which falls in with the interests or the prejudices of the effective majority. In international competition the ultima ratio is, as ever, warlike force, whether the issue be between princes of the grace of God or princes of ownership. It is a favorite maxim of modern politics that trade follows the flag. This is the business man's valuation of national policy and of the ends of national life. So stated, the maxim probably inverts the sequence of facts, hut it is none the less a fair expression of the close relation there is between business endeavor and the modern military
' " Ring " is here uwd u » deaignation of thii looee orguiluUon of bunlnew iDteresta for Uic guidance of poticy, without Impljlng criticUiii of the ring or ol lu kima and uetbiMU.
BUSINESS DJ LAW iND POLITICS 295
policies. Diplomacy, if it is to be effective for whatever end, must be backed by a show of force and of a readiness to use it. The definitive argument of those who speak for armaments (in England and America) is that the maintenance of buflineas interests requires the backing of arms. On the Continent of Europe this argument commonly comes second, while patriotic fancy and animosity take the first place.
Armaments serve trade not only in the making of general terms of purchase and sale between the business men of civilized countries, but