CHAP, iv THE APPEAL TO HISTORY 47 



piercing and discomforting the conscience of the age. 

 When impracticable politicians form a league for the 

 defence, not of property only, but of liberty, one may 

 fairly conclude that liberty is in no special danger, 

 but that other interests of the commonwealth, not less 

 vital to it, had best be looked to. 



It would appear, then, that history cannot guide 

 us very securely. It cannot guide us by quoting par- 

 allels from its repertory, for it is very hard to say 

 what is a parallel ; and it cannot guide us by disclosing 

 what is the master tendency of the present age, for 

 such tendencies are seldom recognised in time. If 

 history makes us wise, our wisdom arrives too gener- 

 ally after the event. Nevertheless, the study of his- 

 tory will be more and more imperative on all those 

 who wish to counsel their fellows. It is mere waste 

 of faculty to ignore the experience of the past, so far 

 as that experience is available. Historical culture 

 will give a man breadth of view. It will lead him to 

 distrust sweeping generalisations and a priori formu- 

 las. It will teach him that every institution and 

 method is relative to the social state of those by 

 whom it is practised. But he who is to lead men 

 strongly must draw wisdom from some other and 

 higher source. History can give secondary elements 

 of guidance ; primary elements it cannot give. And 

 there will always be the danger which that austerest 

 of libre penseurs Mr. John Morley has emphasised, 

 the danger that the historic method may justify any- 

 thing in its own time, everything in its own place, 

 and may relegate to limbo the distinction between 

 right and wrong. Right and wrong history illus- 

 trates that great polar contrast, but cannot fully 



