1 Kings 20:3

" They silver, … is mine ." A conspicuous instance this of that law of old time—

" the simple plan

That they should take who have the power,

And they should keep who can."

But is our modern warfare so very different in principle? Why may kings remove landmarks any more than peasants? Why may a Ben-hadad, an Alexander, a Napoleon cry, "Your lands or your life," without reproach, and yet the footpad who plays at the same game on the highway is hanged for it? Why should what is plain "stealing" in private life be called " conveying " or " annexing " when practised on a larger scale?