alexandria and her schools-第2章
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hing； or one likely to stand much longer on the face of God's earth。
The Turkish empire； as it now exists； seems to me an altogether unrighteous and worthless thing。 It stands no longer upon the assertion of the great truth of Islam； but on the merest brute force and oppression。 It has long since lost the only excuse which one race can have for holding another in subjection； that which we have for taking on ourselves the tutelage of the Hindoos； and which Rome had for its tutelage of the Syrians and Egyptians； namely； the governing with tolerable justice those who cannot govern themselves； and making them better and more prosperous people； by compelling them to submit to law。 I do not know when this excuse is a sufficient one。 God showed that it was so for several centuries in the case of the Romans； God will show whether it is in the case of our Indian empire： but this I say； that the Turkish empire has not even that excuse to plead； as is proved by the patent fact that the whole East； the very garden of the old world； has become a desert and a ruin under the upas…blight of their government。
As for the regeneration of Turkey； it is a question whether the regeneration of any nation which has sunk； not into mere valiant savagery； but into effete and profligate luxury； is possible。 Still more is it a question whether a regeneration can be effected； not by the rise of a new spiritual idea （as in the case of the Koreish）； but simply by more perfect material appliances； and commercial prudence。 History gives no instance； it seems to me； of either case； and if our attempt to regenerate Greece by freeing it has been an utter failure； much more； it seems to me； would any such attempt fail in the case of the Turkish race。 For what can be done with a people which has lost the one great quality which was the tenure of its existence； its military skill？ Let any one read the accounts of the Turkish armies in the fifteenth； sixteenth； and seventeenth centuries； when they were the tutors and models of all Europe in the art of war； and then consider the fact that those very armies require now to be officered by foreign adventurers； in order to make them capable of even keeping together； and let him ask himself seriously； whether such a fall can ever be recovered。 When； in the age of Theodosius； and again in that of Justinian； the Roman armies had fallen into the same state； when the Italian legions required to be led by Stilicho the Vandal； and the Byzantine by Belisar the Sclav and Narses the Persian； the end of all things was at hand； and came； as it will come soon to Turkey。
But if Turkey deserves to fall； and must fall； it must not fall by our treachery。 Its sins will surely be avenged upon it： but wrong must not avenge wrong； or the penalty is only passed on from one sinner to another。 Whatsoever element of good is left in the Turk； to that we must appeal as our only means； if not of saving him； still of helping him to a quiet euthanasia； and absorption into a worthier race of successors。 He is said （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 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 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
