alexandria and her schools(亚历山大和她的学校)-第2节
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allusion to the present war。 To have entered further into political
questions would have been improper in the place where those Lectures
were delivered： but I cannot refrain from saying here something more on
this matter； and that； first； because all political questions have their real
root in moral and spiritual ones； and not （as too many fancy） in questions
merely relating to the balance of power or commercial economy； and are
（the world being under the guidance of a spiritual； and not a physical
Being） finally decided on those spiritual grounds； and according to the just
laws of the kingdom of God； and； therefore； the future political horoscope
of the East depends entirely on the present spiritual state of its inhabitants；
and of us who have （and rightly） taken up their cause； in short； on many of
those questions on which I have touched in these Lectures： and next；
because I feel bound； in justice to myself； to guard against any mistake
about my meaning or supposition that I consider the Turkish empire a
righteous thing； or one likely to stand much longer on the face of God's
earth。
The Turkish empire； as it now exists； seems to me an altogether
unrighteous and worthless thing。 It stands no longer upon the assertion
of the great truth of Islam； but on the merest brute force and oppression。
It has long since lost the only excuse which one race can have for holding
another in subjection； that which we have for taking on ourselves the
tutelage of the Hindoos； and which Rome had for its tutelage of the
Syrians and Egyptians； namely； the governing with tolerable justice those
who cannot govern themselves； and making them better and more
prosperous people； by compelling them to submit to law。 I do not know
when this excuse is a sufficient one。 God showed that it was so for
several centuries in the case of the Romans； God will show whether it is in
the case of our Indian empire： but this I say； that the Turkish empire has
not even that excuse to plead； as is proved by the patent fact that the whole
East； the very garden of the old world； has become a desert and a ruin
under the upas…blight of their government。
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As for the regeneration of Turkey； it is a question whether the
regeneration of any nation which has sunk； not into mere valiant savagery；
but into effete and profligate luxury； is possible。 Still more is it a
question whether a regeneration can be effected； not by the rise of a new
spiritual idea （as in the case of the Koreish）； but simply by more perfect
material appliances； and commercial prudence。 History gives no instance；
it seems to me； of either case； and if our attempt to regenerate Greece by
freeing it has been an utter failure； much more； it seems to me； would any
such attempt fail in the case of the Turkish race。 For what can be done
with a people which has lost the one great quality which was the tenure of
its existence； its military skill？ Let any one read the accounts of the
Turkish armies in the fifteenth； sixteenth； and seventeenth centuries； when
they were the tutors and models of all Europe in the art of war； and then
consider the fact that those very armies require now to be officered by
foreign adventurers； in order to make them capable of even keeping
together； and let him ask himself seriously； whether such a fall can ever be
recovered。 When； in the age of Theodosius； and again in that of Justinian；
the Roman armies had fallen into the same state； when the Italian legions
required to be led by Stilicho the Vandal； and the Byzantine by Belisar the
Sclav and Narses the Persian； the end of all things was at hand； and came；
as it will come soon to Turkey。
But if Turkey deserves to fall； and must fall； it must not fall by our
treachery。 Its sins will surely be avenged upon it： but wrong must not
avenge wrong； or the penalty is only passed on from one sinner to another。
Whatsoever element of good is left in the Turk； to that we must appeal as
our only means； if not of saving him； still of helping him to a quiet
euthanasia； and absorption into a worthier race of successors。 He is said
（I know not how truly） to have one virtue left； that of faithfulness to his
word。 Only by showing him that we too abhor treachery and bad faith；
can we either do him good； or take a safe standing…ground in our own peril。
And this we have done； and for this we shall be rewarded。 But this is
surely not all our duty。 Even if we should be able to make the civil and
religious freedom of the Eastern Christians the price of our assistance to
the Mussulman； the struggle will not be over； for Russia will still be what
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she has always been； and the northern Anarch will be checked； only to
return to the contest with fiercer lust of aggrandisement； to enact the part
of a new Macedon； against a new Greece； divided； not united； by the
treacherous bond of that balance of power； which is but war under the
guise of peace。 Europe needs a holier and more spiritual； and therefore a
stronger union； than can be given by armed neutralities； and the so…called
cause of order。 She needs such a bond as in the Elizabethan age united
the free states of Europe against the Anarch of Spain； and delivered the
Western nations from a rising world…tyranny； which promised to be even
more hideous than the elder one of Rome。 If； as then； England shall
proclaim herself the champion of freedom by acts； and not by words and
paper； she may； as she did then； defy the rulers of the darkness of this
world； for the God of Light will be with her。 But； as yet； it is impossible
to look without sad forebodings upon the destiny of a war； begun upon the
express understanding that evil shall be left triumphant throughout Europe；
wheresoever that evil does not seem； to our own selfish short…sightedness；
to threaten us with immediate danger； with promises； that under the
hollow name of the Cause of Orderand that promise made by a
revolutionary Anarchthe wrongs of Italy； Hungary； Poland； Sweden； shall
remain unredressed； and that Prussia and Austria； two tyrannies； the one
far more false and hypocritical； the other even more rotten than that of
Turkey； shall； if they will but observe a hollow and uncertain neutrality
（for who can trust the liar and the oppressor？）be allowed not only to
keep their ill…gotten spoils； but even now to play into the hands of our foe；
by guarding his Polish frontier for him； and keeping down the victims of
his cruelty； under pretence of keeping down those of their own。
It is true； the alternative is an awful one； one from which statesmen
and nations may well shrink： but it is a question； whether that alternative
may not be forced upon us sooner or later； whether we must not from the
first look it boldly in the face； as that which must be some day； and for
which we must prepare； not cowardly； and with cries about God's wrath
and judgments against uswhich would be abject； were they not expressed
in such second…hand stock…phrases as to make one altogether doubt their
sincerity； but chivalrously； and with awful joy； as a noble calling； an
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honour put upon us by the God of Nations； who demands of us； as some
small return for all His free bounties； that we should be； in this great crisis；
the champions of Freedom and of Justice； which are the cause of God。
At all events； we shall not escape our duty by being afraid of it； we shall
not escape our duty by inventing to ourselves some other duty； and calling
it 〃Order。〃 Elizabet
