SPEECH BEFORE THE TEACE LEAGUE. 3 



I recur rutlier to two jiowits iiuw existing; clii)lo- 

 iiiacy, representing tlio governments — and opinion, 

 representing the peo2)le. It devolves on diplomacy 

 and on public opinion, rising to the grandeur of that 

 mission "which the will of CJod and the conscience of 

 mankind have appointed to them, to opi)ose insur- 

 mountable obstacles to the invasion of this scourge. 

 Let diplomacy renounce the spirit as well as the letter 

 of Machiavelli, let it reject the false science of expedi- 

 ents, the mean arts of deceit, and illuminated by the 

 grand light of principles, glowing with the flame of 

 generous sentiments, it will speedily have established 

 in all the great centres of Europe an international 

 league, a permanent and sovereign council of peace. 

 But why speak of Europe only, when from the depths 

 of Asia, over the crumbling battlements of the great 

 wall, I hear that old China is sending us the son of 

 youthful America, and claiming, through her repre- 

 sentative, the honor of a place among civilized nations. 

 This is the sort of diplomacy which has indeed the 

 secret of the future ! 



But, after all, it is less to diplonuicy than to public 

 opinion that we must have recourse for our projects of 

 peace. Pascal says, '' Opinion is the queen of the 

 world; force is but its tyrant." It was but the morn- 

 ing twilight of public opinion that was shining in the 

 days of Pascal and Louis XIV. The morning has 

 advanced since then ; it approaches its meridian, and 

 everywhere, to-day, it tends to put an end to the ca- 

 prices of personal government. [Urcwo! Bravo! En- 

 tJnisiastic shouts.] 



Personal governments have had their reason and 

 their uses in other ages. [SiniJes. Good! [/ood!] A 

 child stands in need of masters and tutors of a very 



