THE EXPEDIENT OF RELIGION. 505 



might be some force in this objection. But Asia is 

 possessed by a few kings and by their soldiers ; these 

 rulers are usually foreigners ; the masses of the people 

 are invariably slaves. The coDquest of Asia by Euro- 

 pean powers is therefore in reality Emancipation, arid 

 is the first step towards the establishment of oriental 

 nationality. It is needless to say that Europe will 

 never engage in crusades to liberate servile popula- 

 tions ; but the pride and ignorance of military despots 

 will provoke foreign wars, which will prove fatal to 

 their rule. Thus War will, for long years yet to come, 

 be required to prepare "the way for freedom and pro- 

 gress in the East ; and in Europe itself, it is not pro- 

 bable that War will ever absolutely cease until science 

 discovers some destroying force, so simple in its ad- 

 ministration, so horrible in its effects, that all art, all 

 gallantry, will be at an end, and battles will be 

 massacres which the feelings of mankind will be un- 

 able to endure. 



A second expedient of Nature is Religion. Men 

 believe in the existence of beings who can punish 

 and reward them in this life or in the next, who 

 are the true rulers of the world, and who have 

 deputed certain men, called priests, to collect tribute 

 and to pass laws on their behalf. By means of these 

 erroneous ideas, a system of government is formed to 

 which kings themselves are subjected ; the moral nature 

 of man is improved, the sciences and arts are developed, 

 distinct and hostile races are united. But Error, like 

 War, is only provisional. In Europe, Religion no longer 

 exists as a political power, but it will probably yet 

 render service to civilization in assisting to Europeanize 

 the barbarous nations whom events will in time bring 

 under our control. 



