136 



The real evil of war resides in the passions it evokes, and if these 

 passions are manifested as keenly in a state which is pronounced to be 

 (externally at least) at peace, there-'cau be nothing to choose between 

 peace and war ; bat, if the external war when it comes puts a check to 

 the internal strife — not the less strife because no sword is drawn and 

 no blood is shed — if iu seeking to attain one great object all lesser and 

 discordant aims are abandoned ; if open war calls forth a spiiit of devo- 

 tion, of patriotism, and of self-denial, which was clouded and almost 

 stifled in the lethai'gy of peace, then may the poet fairly put into the 

 heart and mouth of his hero a desire for 



"Wai", loud war, by land and by sea," 

 as a preferable state to that of selfish, indolent peace. 



When we reflect on all the benefits that have flowed to humanity 

 from the brave perseverance in righteous war — when we remember how 

 the Greek hurled from the shores of Europe the Persian invader whose 

 success would have crushed civilization in the bud — when we recall the 

 counter invasion of Asia by Alexander, and the innumerable benefits 

 that resulted from his success — when we recollect how the onward 

 progress of the Crescent and of Mahomedanism was stayed, till the 

 repellent became the advancing party — when we pass in review the 

 various struggles which history presents of war in defence of national 

 independence or of religious faith, we may see how the state of external 

 war might even be longed for as a higher state of being than ignoble 

 peace ; and if the philosophy be true that virtue consists in action, then 

 the opportunity of giving practical effect to the innate idea of justice 

 should be welcomed as an auspicious event. Tridy has it been said, 

 " it is strange to imagine that war, which of all things appears the most 

 savage, should be the passion of the most heroic spirits. But 'tis in 

 war that the knot of fellowship is closest draAvn ; 'tis in war that mutual 

 succour is most given, mutual danger run, and common affection most 

 exerted and employed ; for heroism and philanthropy are almost one 

 and the same." We consider that Tennyson has displayed wisdom of 

 the highest order iu thus unfolding the true philosophy of war, and in 

 recalling men's minds from the false glare of military triumph to that 

 which is necessary to justify, and at the same time is sufficient to conse- 

 crate, a war — the justice of the cause which is maintained, and the 

 results that will accrue to humanity from success. 



One other subject calls for some notice at our hands ; the treatment 

 of the social questions which are raised in " Maud." We believe that 

 much of the hostility which this poem has evoked has been occasioned 

 by the unpopularity of the truths so boldly proclaimed iu the waUings 

 of the hero, and bv the utterance of the conviction that much evil is 



