while，indefaultofcontrol，therelapseuponself—interestastheonemotiveprincipleiscertaintoensue，and，whenitensues，isabsoluteinitsoperations。Butas，evenwithus，theseso—calledordinancesofnatureintimeofwarconsenttobesuspended，anddutytohiscountrybecomeswitheverygoodcitizenahighermotiveofactionthantheadvantageswhichhemaygaininanenemy'smarket;soitisnotuncheeringtolookbackuponatimewhenthenationwasinanormalconditionofmilitancyagainstsocialinjustice——whentheGovernmentwasenabled，byhappycircumstances，topursueintodetailasingleandseriousaimatthewell—being——well—beinginitswidestsense——ofallmembersofthecommonwealth。Thereweredifficultiesanddrawbacksatthattimeaswellasthis。OfLiberty，inthemodernsenseoftheword——ofthesupposedrightofeveryman"todowhathewillwithhisown，"orwithhimself——therewasnoidea。Tothequestion，ifeveritwasasked，"MayInotdowhatIwillwithmyown？"therewasthebriefanswer，"Nomanmaydowhatiswrong，eitherwithwhatishisownorwithwhatisanother's。"Producers，too，whowerenotpermittedtodrivedowntheirworkmen'swagesbycompetition，couldnotselltheirgoodsascheaplyastheymighthavedone，andtheconsumerpaidforthelawinanadvanceofprice;buttheburden，thoughitfellheavilyontherich，lightlytouchedthepoorandtherichconsentedcheerfullytoataxwhichensuredtheloyaltyofthepeople。Theworkingmanofmoderntimeshasboughttheextensionofhislibertyatthepriceofhismaterialcomfort。
Thehigherclasseshavegainedinwealthwhattheyhavelostinpower。Itisnotforthehistoriantobalanceadvantages。Hisdutyiswiththefacts。'
Ourforefathers，then，werenotfree，ifweattachtothatwordthemeaningwhichourTransatlanticbrothersseeminclinedtogivetoit。
Theyhadnotlearnttodeifyself—will，andtoclaimforeachmemberofthehumanracearighttotheindulgenceofeveryeccentricity。
Theycalledthemselvesfree，andboastedoftheirfreedom;buttheirconceptionoflibertywasthatofalloldnations，afreedomwhichnotonlyallowedofdiscipline，butwhichgrewoutofit。Nopeoplehadlesswishtoexaltthekinglypowerintothatspecioustyranny，apaternalGovernment;thekingwaswiththem，andalwayshadbeen，bothformallyandreally，subjecttotheirchoice;boundbymanyoathstomanyduties;theminister，notthemasterofthepeople。
Buttheirwholeconceptionofpoliticallifewas，nevertheless，shapedbytheirconceptionoffamilylife。Strictobedience，sterndiscipline，compulsoryeducationinpracticalduties，wasthelawofthelatter;withoutsuchtrainingtheythoughttheirsonscouldneverbecomeinanytruesensemen。Andwhentheygrewup，theirciviclifewastobeconductedonthesameprinciples，fortheverypurposeofenablingthemtoliveasmembersofafreenation。Iftheself—
willoftheindividualwascurbed，nowandthen，needlessly——asitisthenatureofallhumanmethodstocaricaturethemselvesattimes——
thepurposewas，nottoweakentheman，buttostrengthenhimbystrengtheningthebodytowhichhebelonged。Thenationwastobefree，self—helping，self—containing，unconquerable;tothatgreatpurposethewill，thefancy——even，ifneedbe，themortallifeoftheindividual，mustgiveway。Menmustbetrainedatallcostsinself—
restraint，becauseonlysocouldtheybecomeheroesinthedayofdanger;inself—sacrificeforthecommongood，becauseonlysowouldtheyremainunited，whileforeignnationsandevilhomeinfluencesweretryingtotearthemasunder。Inaword，theirconceptionoflifewasasawarfare;theirorganisationthatofaregiment。Itisaquestionwhethertheconceptionofcorporatelifeembodiedinaregimentorarmybenot，afterall，thebestworkingoneforthisworld。Atleasttheproblemofaperfectsociety，howsoeverbeautifulonpaper，willalwaysissueinacompromise，moreorlessperfect——letushopemoreandmoreperfectasthecenturiesrollon——
betweenthestrictnessofmilitarydisciplineandtheIrishman'slaissez—faireideal，wherein'everymanshoulddothatwhichwasrightinthesightofhisowneyes，andwrongtoo，ifheliked。'Atleast，suchhadEnglandbeenforcenturies;undersuchasystemhadshethriven;afactwhich，dulyconsidered，shouldsilencesomewhatthosegentlemenwho，notbeingofamilitaryturnthemselves，informEuropesopatrioticallyandsoprudentlythat'Englandisnotamilitarynation。'
Fromthisdogmawebegleavetodifferutterly。Britainisatthismoment，inoureyes，theonlymilitarynationinEurope。Allothernationsseemtoustohavemilitarygovernments，butnottobemilitarythemselves。Asproofoftheassertion，weappealmerelytotheexistenceofourmilitia。Whileothernationsareemployingconscription，wehaveraisedintwelvemonthsanoblearmy，everysoulofwhichhasvolunteeredasafreeman;andyet，forsooth，wearenotamilitarynation！Wearenotashamedtotellhow，buttheotherday，standingintherearofthosemilitiaregiments，nomatterwhere，aflushofpridecameoverusatthesightofthoselads，butafewmonthssincehelplessandawkwardcountryboors，nowfullofsturdyintelligence，cheerfulobedience，andthemanhoodwhichcanaffordtoberespectfultoothers，becauseitrespectsitself，andknowsthatitisrespectedinturn。True，theyhadnotthelightness，theorder，thepracticalease，thecunningself—
helpfulnessofthesplendidGermanlegionarieswhostoodbesidethem，thebreastofeveryotherprivatedecoratedwithclaspsandmedalsforserviceinthewarsofsevenyearssince。Asaninvadingbody，perhaps，onewouldhavepreferredtheGermans;butonlybecauseexperiencehadtaughtthemalreadywhatitwouldteachintwelvemonthstotheBerkshireorCambridge'clod。'There，tous，wasthetruetestofEngland'smilitaryqualities;heryoungmenhadcomebytensofthousands，oftheirownfreewill，tobemadesoldiersofbyhercountrygentlemen，andtreatedbythemthewhileasmentobeeducated，notasthingstobecompelled;notdrivenlikesheeptotheslaughter，tobedisciplinedbymenwithwhomtheyhadnobondbutthemereofficialoneofmilitaryobedience;and'What，'weaskourselves，'doesEnglandlacktomakeherasecondRome？'Herpeoplehavephysicalstrength，animalcourage，thatself—dependenceoffreemenwhichenabledatInkermantheprivatestofightonliterallywithoutofficers，everymanforhisownhand。Shehasinventivegenius，enormouswealth;andif，asissaid，hersoldierslackatpresenttheself—helpfulnessoftheZouave，itisridiculoustosupposethatthatqualitycouldlongbewantinginthemenofanationwhichisatthismomenttheforemostintheworkofemigrationandcolonisation。Iforganisingpowerandmilitarysystembe，asissaid，lackinginhighquarters，surelytheremustbeorganisingpowerenoughsomewhereinthegreatestindustrialnationuponearth，readytocomeforwardwhenthereisarealdemandforit;andwhateverbethedefectsofoursystem，wearesurelynotasfarbehindPrussiaorFranceasRomewasbehindtheCarthaginiansandtheGreekswhomshecrushed。Afewyearssufficedforthemtolearnalltheyneededfromtheirenemies;fewerstillwouldsufficeustolearnfromourfriends。Ourworkingclassesarenot，likethoseofAmerica，inastateofphysicalcomforttoogreattomakeitworthwhileforthemtoleavetheirhomeoccupations;andwhetherthatbeagoodoranevil，itatleastensuresus，asourmilitiaproves，analmostinexhaustiblesupplyofvolunteers。Whatanewandawfulscenefortheworld'sdrama，didsuchanationasthisoncesetbeforeitself，steadilyandruthlessly，asRomedidofold，theideaofconquest。
Evennow，wagingwarasshehasdone，asitwere，[Greektextwhichcannotbereproduced]thinkingwartoounimportantapartofherworktoemployonitherhighestintellects，herflaghasadvancedinthelastfiftyyearsovermorevastandrichertractsthanthatofanyEuropeannationuponearth。WhatkeepsherfromthedreamwhichluredtotheirdestructionBabylon，Macedonia，Rome？
This:that，thankGod，shehasaconsciencestill;that，feelingintenselythesacrednessofherownnationallife，shehaslearnedtolookonthatofotherpeople'sassacredalso;andsince，inthefifteenthcentury，shefinallyrepentedofthatwildandunrighteousdreamofconqueringFrance，shehasdiscoveredmoreandmorethattruemilitarygreatnessliesinthepowerofdefence，andnotofattack;notinwagingwar，butbeingabletowageit;andhasgoneonhertruemissionofreplenishingtheearthmorepeacefully，onthewhole，andmorehumanely，thandidevernationbeforeher;conqueringonlywhenitwasnecessarytoputdownthelawlessnessofthesavagefewforthewell—beingofthecivilisedmany。Thishasbeenheridea;shemayhaveconfuseditandherselfinCaffreorinChinesewars;forwhocanalwaysbetruetothelightwithinhim？Butthishasbeenheridea;andthereforeshestandsandgrowsandthrives，avirginlandfornoweighthundredyears。
Butafancyhascomeoverusduringthelastblessedfortyyearsofunexampledpeace，fromwhichourancestorsofthesixteenthcenturywerekeptbysternandyetmostwholesomelessons;thefancythatpeace，andnotwar，isthenormalconditionoftheworld。Thefancyissofairthatweblamenonewhocherishit;afteralltheydogoodbycherishingit;theypointustoanidealwhichweshouldotherwiseforget，asBabylon，Rome，Franceintheseventeenthcentury，forgotutterly。Onlytheyareinhaste（andpardonablehastetoo）torealisethatideal，forgettingthattodosowouldbereallytostopshortofit，andtorestcontentedinsomeformofhumansocietyfarlowerthanthatwhichGodhasactuallypreparedforthosewholoveHim。BettertobelievethatallourconceptionsoftheheighttowhichthehumanracemightattainarepoorandpaltrycomparedwiththattowardwhichGodisguidingit，andforwhichheisdiscipliningitbyawfullessons:andtofighton，ifneedbe，ruthless，andyetfullofpity——andmanyanoblesoulhaslearntwithinthelasttwoyearshoweasyitistoreconcileinpracticethatseemingparadoxofwords——smitingdownstoutlyevilwheresoeverweshallfindit，andsaying，'Whatoughttobe，weknownot;Godalonecanknow:butthatthisoughtnottobe，wedoknow，andhere，inGod'sname，itshallnotstay。'
Werepeatit:war，insomeshapeorother，isthenormalconditionoftheworld。Itisafearfulfact:butweshallnotabolishitbyignoringit，andignoringbythesamemethodtheteachingofourBibles。NotinmeremetaphordoesthegospelofLovedescribethelifeoftheindividualgoodmanasaperpetualwarfare。NotinmeremetaphordoestheapostleofLoveseeinhisvisionsoftheworld'sfuturenoArcadianshepherdparadises，notevenaperfectcivilisation，butaneternalwarinheaven，wrathandwoe，plagueandearthquake;andamidtheeverlastingstorm，thevoicesofthesaintsbeneaththealtarcrying，'Lord，howlong？'ShallwepretendtohavemoretenderheartsthantheoldmanofEphesus，whosedyingsermon，sooldlegendssay，wasnoughtbut——'Littlechildren，loveoneanother';andwhoyetcoulddenouncetheliarandthehaterandthecovetousman，andproclaimthevengeanceofGodagainstallevildoers，withallthefiercenessofanIsaiah？Itwasenoughforhim——letitbeenoughforus——thatheshouldsee，abovethethunder—
cloud，andtherainofblood，andthescorpionswarm，andthegreatangelcallingallthefowlofheaventothesupperofthegreatGod，thattheymighteatthefleshofkingsandvaliantmen，acityofGodeternalintheheavens，andyeteternallydescendingamongmen;aperfectorder，justice，love，andpeace，becomingactualmoreandmoreineveryage，throughallthefearfultrainingneedfulforafallenrace。
Letthatbeenoughforus:butdonotletusfancythatwhatistrueofthetwoextremesmustnotneedsbetrueofthemeanalso;thatwhilethelifeoftheindividualandoftheuniverseisoneofperpetualself—defence，thelifeofthenationcanbeaughtelse:orthatanyappliancesofscientificcomforts，anyintellectualcultivation，evenanyofthemostdirectandcommon—senseargumentsofself—interest，canavailtoquietinmanthoseoutburstsofwrath，ambition，cupidity，woundedpride，whichhaveperiodicallyconvulsed，andwillconvulsetotheend，thehumanrace。Thephilosopherinhisstudymayprovetheirabsurdity，theirsuicidalfolly，till，deludedbythestrangelullofafortyyears'peace，hemaylookonwarsasinthesamecategorywithflagellantisms，witch—manias，andother'populardelusions，'asinsanitiesofthepast，impossiblehenceforth;andmayprophesy，asreallywisepoliticaleconomistsweredoingin1847，thatmankindhadgrowntoosensibletogotowaranymore。Andbehold，thepeaceprovesonlytobethelullbeforethethunderstorm;andoneelectricshocksetsfreeforcesunsuspected，transcendental，supernaturalinthedeepestsense;
forceswhichwecannomorestop，byshrieksattheirabsurdity，fromincarnatingthemselvesinactualblood，andmisery，andhorror，thanwecancontrolthemadmaninhisparoxysmbytellinghimthatheisamadman。Andsothefairvisionofthestudentisburiedoncemoreinrackandhailanddrivingstorm;and，likeDanielofoldwhenrejoicingoverthecomingrestorationofhispeople，heseesbeyondthevictorysomedarkerstrugglestill，andletshisnotesoftriumphdieawayintoawail，——'Andtheendthereofshallbewithaflood;
andtotheendofthewardesolationsaredetermined。'
ItisasimpossibleasitwouldbeunwisetoconcealfromourselvesthefactthatalltheContinentalnationslookuponourpresentpeaceasbuttransitory，momentary;andontheCrimeanwarasbuttheprologuetoafearfuldrama——allthemorefearfulbecausenoneknowsitspurpose，itsplot，whichcharacterwillbeassumedbyanygivenactor，and，leastofall，thedenouementofthewhole。Allthattheyfeelandknowisthateverythingwhichhashappenedsince1848hasexasperated，notcalmed，theelectrictensionoftheEuropeanatmosphere;thatarottenness，rapidlygrowingintolerablealike'toGodandtheenemiesofGod，'haseatenintothevitalsofContinentallife;thattheirrulersknowneitherwheretheyarenorwhithertheyaregoing，andonlypraythatthingsmaylastouttheirtime:allnoteswhichonewouldinterpretasprovingtheContinenttobealreadyripeforsubjectiontosomeonedevouringraceofconquerors，weretherenotarayofhopeinanexpectation，evenmorepainfultoourhumanpity，whichisheldbysomeofthewisestamongtheGermans;namely，thatthecomingwarwillfastresolveintonostrugglebetweenbankruptmonarchsandtheirrespectivearmies，butawarbetweennationsthemselves，aninternecinewarofopinionsandofcreeds。TherearewiseGermansnowwhoprophesy，withsacredtears，asecond'ThirtyYears'War，'withallitsfrantichorrors，fortheirhaplesscountry，whichhasfoundtwocenturiestooshortatimewhereintorecoverfromtheexhaustionofthatfirstfearfulscourge。
Letustrust，ifthatwarshallbegetitsnewTillysandWallensteins，itshallalsobegetitsnewGustavusAdolphus，andmanyanotherchildofLight:butletusnothopethatwecanstandbyinidlecomfort，andthatwhentheoverflowingscourgepassesbyitshallnotreachtous。Shametous，werethatourdestiny！Shametous，werewetorefuseourshareinthestrugglesofthehumanrace，andtostandbyinidlecomfortwhiletheLord'sbattlesarebeingfought。Honourtous，ifinthatdaywehavechosenforourleaders，asourforefathersofthesixteenthcenturydid，menwhoseetheworkwhichGodwouldhavethemdo，andhaveheartsandheadstodoit。
Honourtous，ifwespendthistransientlull，asourforefathersofthesixteenthcenturydid，insettingourhouseinorder，inredressingeverygrievance，reformingeveryabuse，knittingtheheartsoftheBritishnationtogetherbypracticalcareandhelpbetweenclassandclass，manandman，governorandgoverned，thatwemaybequeathtoourchildren，asHenrytheEighth'smendidtotheirs，aBritishnationallife，sounitedandwhole—hearted，soclearinpurposeandsturdyinexecution，sotrainedtoknowtherightsideatthefirstglanceandtakeit，thattheyshalllookbackwithloveandhonouruponus，theirfathers，determinedtocarryout，eventothedeath，themethodwhichwehavebequeathedtothem。
Then，ifGodwillthatthepowersofevil，physicalandspiritual，shouldcombineagainstthisland，astheydidinthedaysofgoodQueenBess，weshallnothavelivedinvain;forthosewho，asinQueenBess'sdays，thoughttoyokefortheirownusealabouringox，willfind，asthen，thattheyhaverousedalionfromhisden。
Footnotes:
{1}NorthBritishReview，No。LI。，November1856。——'AHistoryofEngland，fromtheFallofWolseytotheDeathofElizabeth。'ByJ。
A。Froude，M。A。，lateFellowofExetercollege，Oxford。London:J。
W。ParkerandSon，WestStrand。2vols。1856。
{2}ThisarticleappearedintheNorthBritishReview。