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（I know not how truly） to have one virtue left； that of faithfulness to his
word。 Only by showing him that we too abhor treachery and bad faith；
can we either do him good； or take a safe standing…ground in our own peril。
And this we have done； and for this we shall be rewarded。 But this is
surely not all our duty。 Even if we should be able to make the civil and
religious freedom of the Eastern Christians the price of our assistance to
the Mussulman； the struggle will not be over； for Russia will still be what
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she has always been； and the northern Anarch will be checked； only to
return to the contest with fiercer lust of aggrandisement； to enact the part
of a new Macedon； against a new Greece； divided； not united； by the
treacherous bond of that balance of power； which is but war under the
guise of peace。 Europe needs a holier and more spiritual； and therefore a
stronger union； than can be given by armed neutralities； and the so…called
cause of order。 She needs such a bond as in the Elizabethan age united
the free states of Europe against the Anarch of Spain； and delivered the
Western nations from a rising world…tyranny； which promised to be even
more hideous than the elder one of Rome。 If； as then； England shall
proclaim herself the champion of freedom by acts； and not by words and
paper； she may； as she did then； defy the rulers of the darkness of this
world； for the God of Light will be with her。 But； as yet； it is impossible
to look without sad forebodings upon the destiny of a war； begun upon the
express understanding that evil shall be left triumphant throughout Europe；
wheresoever that evil does not seem； to our own selfish short…sightedness；
to threaten us with immediate danger； with promises； that under the
hollow name of the Cause of Orderand that promise made by a
revolutionary Anarchthe wrongs of Italy； Hungary； Poland； Sweden； shall
remain unredressed； and that Prussia and Austria； two tyrannies； the one
far more false and hypocritical； the other even more rotten than that of
Turkey； shall； if they will but observe a hollow and uncertain neutrality
（for who can trust the liar and the oppressor？）be allowed not only to
keep their ill…gotten spoils； but even now to play into the hands of our foe；
by guarding his Polish frontier for him； and keeping down the victims of
his cruelty； under pretence of keeping down those of their own。
It is true； the alternative is an awful one； one from which statesmen
and nations may well shrink： but it is a question； whether that alternative
may not be forced upon us sooner or later； whether we must not from the
first look it boldly in the face； as that which must be some day； and for
which we must prepare； not cowardly； and with cries about God's wrath
and judgments against uswhich would be abject； were they not expressed
in such second…hand stock…phrases as to make one altogether doubt their
sincerity； but chivalrously； and with awful joy； as a noble calling； an
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honour put upon us by the God of Nations； who demands of us； as some
small return for all His free bounties； that we should be； in this great crisis；
the champions of Freedom and of Justice； which are the cause of God。
At all events； we shall not escape our duty by being afraid of it； we shall
not escape our duty by inventing to ourselves some other duty； and calling
it 〃Order。〃 Elizabeth did so at first。 She tried to keep the peace with
Spain； she shrank from injuring the cause of Order （then a nobler one than
now； because it was the cause of Loyalty； and not merely of Mammon） by
assisting the Scotch and the Netherlanders： but her duty was forced upon
her； and she did it at last； cheerfully； boldly； utterly； like a hero； she put
herself at the head of the battle for the freedom of the world； and she
conquered； for God was with her； and so that seemingly most fearful of all
England's perils； when the real meaning of it was seen； and God's will in it
obeyed manfully； became the foundation of England's naval and colonial
empire； and laid the foundation of all her future glories。 So it was then；
so it is now； so it will be for ever： he who seeks to save his life will lose it：
he who willingly throws away his life for the cause of mankind； which is
the cause of God； the Father of mankind； he shall save it； and be rewarded
a hundred…fold。 That God may grant us； the children of the Elizabethan
heroes； all wisdom to see our duty； and courage to do it； even to the death；
should be our earliest prayer。 Our statesmen have done wisely and well
in refusing； in spite of hot…headed clamours； to appeal to the sword as long
as there was any chance of a peaceful settlement even of a single evil。
They are doing wisely and well now in declining to throw away the
scabbard as long as there is hope that a determined front will awe the
offender into submission： but the day may come when the scabbard must
be thrown away； and God grant that they may have the courage to do it。
It is reported that our rulers have said； that English diplomacy can no
longer recognise 〃nationalities；〃 but only existing 〃governments。〃 God
grant that they may see in time that the assertion of national life； as a
spiritual and indefeasible existence； was for centuries the central idea of
English policy； the idea by faith in which she delivered first herself； and
then the Protestant nations of the Continent； successively from the yokes
of Rome； of Spain； of France； and that they may reassert that most English
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of all truths again； let the apparent cost be what it may。
It is true； that this end will not be attained without what is called
nowadays 〃a destruction of human life。〃 But we have yet to learn （at
least if the doctrines which I have tried to illustrate in this little book have
any truth in them） whet