"I came here as a practical man, to talk, not simply on the question of peace and war, but to treat another question which is of hardly less importance - the enormous and burdensome standing armaments which it is the practice of modern Governments to sustain in time of peace"

This quote by Richard Cobden speaks to the significance of talking about the concern of standing weaponries in times of peace. Cobden was a practical guy, and he believed that the problem of standing weaponries was of equivalent value to the discussion of peace and war. He was advocating for a reduction in the number of armaments held by federal governments in times of peace, as he believed that the problem of keeping them was too great. He argued that the cash spent on armaments might be better used to enhance the lives of citizens, which the decrease of weaponries would lead to a more tranquil world. Cobden's words still prove out today, as governments around the world continue to invest huge amounts of money on weaponries in times of peace.