"It is not uncommon in modern times to see governments straining every nerve to keep the peace, and the people whom they represent, with patriotic enthusiasm and resentment over real or fancied wrongs, urging them forward to war"

This quote by Elihu Root speaks to the paradox of contemporary times, where federal governments are making every effort to keep peace while their people are promoting war. Root suggests that federal governments are doing their best to keep the peace, however individuals they represent are often driven by patriotic interest and a sense of resentment over perceived or actual wrongs. This can lead to a situation where individuals are promoting war, in spite of the government's efforts to maintain peace. This quote highlights the tension between governments and their residents, and the difficulty of maintaining peace in a world where people are frequently driven by feeling and a sense of justice.