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THE UTILITY OF COMMON STATISTICS I I
wealth and latent strength on the other side, yet it is
obvious that the mere numbers are a most vital element
in appreciating the political position of these five powers
and the lesser powers around them. Perhaps if states-
men were always wise. and rulers and peoples free
from prejudice and passion, the popular knowledge of
the figures would be even more serviceable than it is in
demonstrating the absolute insanity of offensive war.
I t is ~possible to conceive what object any of these
five great powers could gain by the misery and suffer-
ing of war with another, adequate to repay that misery
and suffering: the very magnitude of the wars forbids
the possibility of gain.
The past history and future prospects of the balance
of power among these nations are also illustrated by a
mere consideration of the numbers. We have only to
glance at the population of the different States as at the
close of the great wars in 1815 and as they are now, to
see that great changes have. happened:

J8J5· 1880.
Population Per Cent. Population Per Cent.
in of in of
MilIioDll. Total. Millions. Total
Russia in Europe . · · 48 33 80 1 34
Germany'·. . . 21 14} 4S 19
Austria.Hungary . · · 28 20 3 8 16.
France . · . ~9 20{- 37 16
United Kingdom. · 17 12 3S IS
Total · 143 100 235 , 100

Thus in 1815 a compact France possessed several
millions more than the population of Germany, nearly

1 The exact figure by the last census is 84 millions,. but I have
preferred to be a little under the mark, so as to allow a little (or more
exact enumeration in the latter censuses. For the present purpose the
difi'erence between 80 and 84 is immateriaL
, Germany was also much divided in I8IS.