THE ELEVENTH WAR : CRIMEAN WAR. 23 



for the moment that the Four Great Powers, admitted that their 

 recommendations were not of necessity to be accepted by Turkey, 

 they put themselves entirely in the hands of Turkey to be dragged 

 into War. 



The course taken by Turkey in risking War, was against the strong 

 advice of her Allies, and therefore England ought to have told her 

 from the first, " If you persist in taking your own course, we cannot 

 be involved in the difficulty to which it may give rise, but must leave 

 you to take the consequences of your own acts." 



Unhappily the Government of Lord Aberdeen and the English 

 Nation were actuated by a bitter hostility to Russia, and they 

 imagined the War was necessary for European freedom, and to cripple 

 the resources of Russia. Nothing could have been more impolitic, 

 or more reprehensible. 



The aggrandisement of Russia and the "balance of power" were 

 the bugbears raised to justify the War; and in reality it was on this cry 

 that the whole question eventually turned; "but," said Mr. Bright in 

 a great speech delivered in Parliament, "if this phrase '■balance of 

 power ' is always to be an argument for War, the pretence for War will 

 never be wanting, and peace can never be secured." 



TMs absurd idea of the " balance of power " is a delusion, and we 

 ought to drive it from our minds, and to consider the solemn question 

 of Peace or War on more clear, more definite, and on far higher 

 principles than any that are involved in the '^balance of power." 



In the Message from the Crown, on the opening of Parliament in 

 1 854, the Government declared the three great objects of the war 

 for which the efforts and resources of England were to be given. 



I. To maintain the integrity and independence of the Ottoman 

 Empire ; 2. To curb the aggression of Russia ; 3. To defend the 

 interests of England. 



I. To maintain the independence and integrity of the Ottoman 

 Empire. 



This is to maintain a fierce military despotism, allied with the 

 fanaticism of a brutaUsing religion which teaches its followers to rely 

 solely on the sword, and to disdain all improvements ; ruled by a 

 Sultan who sways the lives and destinies of the people with an 

 absolute power, greater than was ever shewn by any tyrant of ancient 

 times. 



It is to maintain a nation of men who know nothing about Com- 

 merce, and care as little about its freedom ; who despise Trade, and 

 despise it in others. 



