80 DISCOUKSES OF FATHER HYACINTHE. 



province, looking about on its sister provinces, needed 

 to join bands "witli tbem and form tbat angnst circle 

 wbicli we call by tbc name of France. But bigber in 

 the scale tban France, I find, in tbe political order — 

 notbing — notbing ! 



In fact,, wbat could I find ? If I looked into tbe past, 

 I sbould find universal empire. If I looked into tbe 

 future — no, not tbe future — if I looked into Utopia, I 

 sbould find national confederation. No, no. Gentle- 

 men, neitber one nor tbe otber of tbese ; neitber uni- 

 versal empire nor confederation of nations, but France. 



Universal empire I need not speak of. I bate to 

 tbink of it. I would ratber leave it to itself, in tbe bare 

 facts of bistory, from Xebucbadnezzar down to Cœsar 

 and bis modern imitators. Gory spectre tbat it is, it 

 seems to say, like Macbetb in Sbakspeare's tragedy, 



**■ What hands are here ! Ha ! they pluck'out mine eyes ! 

 Will all great Ncptune'-s ocean wash this blood 

 Clean from my hand ?" 



If universal empire is sucli a dismal nigbtmare, 

 national confederation is a barmless and laugbable 

 cbimera, not wortby tbe bonor of a refutation. There 

 exists, it is true, a confederation of tbe United States of 

 America. There has been talk, sometimes, in noble 

 but Utopian phrase, of the confederation of the United 

 States of Europe ; but no one dreams of the confedera- 

 tion of the United States of the globe. I pause here, 

 therefore, and conclude tliis first discussion with the 

 declaration tbat there neither has been in the past, nor 

 is to be in tbe future, any political body superior to 

 tlie nation. 



And if, after liaving looked mauwaixl for Ibe evidence 

 of lliis fact, I look CJodward ior the uliimate reason of 



