338 THE MILITARY AND FINANCIAL 



her infinite wisdom and enlightenment, have one and all, it would 

 appear, launched her into this painful position, that when the 

 nations of Europe are not fighting, and slaying, they are 

 preparing to fight, and slay one another ; they are snarling at, and 

 watching one another, with the sleeplessness and cunning, with the 

 vigilance and ferocity, of barbarous and savage tribes. 



Under such portentous circumstances as these, truly, the task of 

 the statesmen of every European State, is an arduous and perilous 

 one ; and to none is it more so, than to the those statesmen of the 

 Great Empires of Germany, Russia, and France. 



By wisdom and forbearance, by firmness and sagacity, it may be 

 within their power to avert any disastrous collision, which seems so 

 threatening, of these vast armed forces, and vast floating navies in 

 Europe, ready for the fray. 



In such a serious crisis, may we not commend, to every lover of 

 order, every true patriot, every friend of peace, the sagacious counsels 

 of that eminent statesman, the late Sir Robert Peel, words of warning, 

 uttered fifty years ago, in 1841, but equally, and more forcibly 

 applicable at the present day : 



"The true interest of Europe is to come to some one common accord, so as to 

 enable every country to reduce those military armaments which belong to a state 

 of war, rather than to peace. 



" I do wish the Councils of every country, and if the Councils will not, that 

 the public mind and voice will willingly propagate such a doctrine. 



Let the Friends of Peace, therefore, in every nation urge upon 

 their respective Governments the necessity of an immediate reduction 

 of those enormous armaments which promote rivalries, foment 

 constant jealousies, and are the most frequent causes of war, and 

 let their cry be, Disarm ! Disarm ! Disarm ! 



The only escape from this greatcatastrophe is, to create anddevelope 

 an improved public opinion throughout the various nations of 

 Europe, which shall lead them to understand, that their true interests 

 are involved in, and best secured by, the preservation of Peace ; to 

 encourage and extend perfect freedom of trade, and intercourse 

 between the peoples of various countries, for thus, prejudices will be 

 removed, friendships stimulated, and the entire human family united 

 in bonds of commerce ; to establish a High Court of Nations, com- 

 posed of the most learned, wise, and elevated in each nation, to 

 whom all disputes, which it is found impossible to settle by 

 negotiation, shall be referred, in order that they may be decided in 

 accordance with the principles of truth and justice. 



