第21章
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  OftheForeignOffice,initsreformedstate,wehavenotmuchtosay。Abolitionofimaginarywork,andreplacementofitbyreal,isonallhandsunderstoodtobeveryurgentthere。Largeneedlessexpendituresofmoney,immeasurabledittoofhypocrisyandgrimace;embassies,protocols,worldsofextincttraditions,emptypedantries,foulcobwebs:——butwewillbynomeansapplythe“livecoal“ofourwittyfriend;theForeignOfficewillrepent,andnotbedriventosuicide!AtruertimewillcomefortheContinentalNationstoo:Authoritiesbasedontruth,andonthesilentorspokenWorshipofHumanNobleness,willagaingetthemselvesestablishedthere;allSham-Authorities,andconsequentReal-AnarchiesbasedonuniversalsuffrageandtheGospelaccordingtoGeorgeSand,beingputaway;andnobleaction,heroicnew-developmentsofhumanfacultyandindustry,andblessedfruitasofParadisegettingitselfconqueredfromthewastebattle-fieldofthechaoticelements,willoncemore,thereashere,begintoshowthemselves。

  WhentheContinentalNationshaveoncegottothebottomof_their_AugeanStable,andbeguntohaverealenterprisesbasedontheeternalfactsagain,ourForeignOfficemayagainhaveextensiveconcernswiththem。Andatalltimes,andevennow,therewillremainthequestiontobesincerelyputandwiselyanswered,Whatessentialconcern_has_theBritishNationwiththemandtheirenterprises?Anyconcernatall,exceptthatofhandsomelykeepingapartfromthem?Ifso,whatarethemethodsofbestmanagingit?——Atpresent,aswassaid,whileRedRepublicbutclasheswithfoulBureaucracy;andNations,sunkinblindignavia,demandauniversal-suffrageParliamenttohealtheirwretchedness;andwildAnarchyandPhallus-WorshipstrugglewithSham-KingshipandextinctorgalvanizedCatholicism;andintheCaveoftheWindsallmannerofrottenwaifsandwrecksarehurledagainsteachother,——ourEnglishinterestinthecontroversy,howeverhugesaidcontroversygrow,isquitetrifling;wehaveonlyinahandsomemannertosaytoit:

  “Tumbleandragealong,yerottenwaifsandwrecks;clashandcollideasseemsfittesttoyou;andsmiteeachotherintoannihilationatyourowngoodpleasure。Inthathugeconflict,dismalbutunavoidable,we,thankstoourheroicancestors,havinggotsofaraheadofyou,havenownointerestatall。Ourdecidednotionis,thedeadoughttoburytheirdeadinsuchacase:andsowehavethehonortobe,withdistinguishedconsideration,yourentirelydevoted,——FLIMNAP,SEC。FOREIGN

  DEPARTMENT。“——IreallythinkFlimnap,tilltruertimescome,oughttotreatmuchofhisworkinthisway:cautioustogiveoffencetohisneighbors;resolutenottoconcernhimselfinanyoftheirself-annihilatingoperationswhatsoever。

  Foreignwarsaresometimesunavoidable。Weourselves,inthecourseofnaturalmerchandisingandlaudablebusiness,havenowandthengotintoambiguoussituations;intoquarrelswhichneededtobesettled,andwithoutfightingwouldnotsettle。

  SugarIslands,SpiceIslands,Indias,Canadas,these,bytherealdecreeofHeaven,wereours;andnobodywouldorcouldbelieveit,tillitwastriedbycannonlaw,andsoproved。Suchcaseshappen。Informertimesespecially,owingverymuchtowantofintercourseandtotheconsequentmutualignorance,theredidoccurmisunderstandings:andtherefrommanyforeignwars,someofthembynomeansunnecessary。WithChina,orsomedistantcountry,toounintelligentofusandtoounintelligibletous,therestillsometimesrisesnecessaryoccasionforawar。

  Neverthelesswars——misunderstandingsthatgettothelengthofarguingthemselvesoutbyswordandcannon——have,intheselategenerationsofimprovedintercourse,beenpalpablybecominglessandlessnecessary;haveinamannerbecomesuperfluous,ifwehadalittlewisdom,andourForeignOfficeonagoodfooting。

  OfEuropeanwarsIreallyhardlyrememberany,sinceOliverCromwell’slastProtestantorLiberationwarwithPopishantichristianSpainsometwohundredyearsago,towhichIformyownpartcouldhavecontributedmylifewithanyheartiness,orinfactwouldhavesubscribedmoneyitselftoanyconsiderableamount。DutchWilliam,amanofsomeheroism,didindeedgetintotroubleswithLouisFourteenth;andthererestedstillsomeshadowofProtestantInterest,andquestionofNationalandindividualIndependence,overthosewidecontroversies;alittlemoneyandhumanenthusiasmwasstillduetoDutchWilliam。

  IllustriousChathamalso,nottospeakofhisManillaransomsandthelike,didonething:assistedFritzofPrussia,abravemanandkingalmosttheonlysovereignKingIhaveknownsinceCromwell’stimeliketobebornedownbyignoblemenandsham-kings;forthisletillustriousChathamtoohavealittlemoneyandhumanenthusiasm,——alittle,bynomeansmuch。ButwhatamItosayofheaven-bornPittthesonofChatham?Englandsentforthherfleetsandarmies;hermoneyintoeverycountry;

  moneyasiftheheaven-bornChancellorhadgotaFortunatus’

  purse;asifthisIslandhadbecomeavolcanicfountainofgold,ornewterrestrialsuncapableofradiatingmereguineas。Theresultofallwhich,whatwasit?Elderlymencanrememberthetar-barrelsburntforsuccessandthrice-immortalvictoryinthebusiness;andyetwhatresulthadwe?TheFrenchRevolution,aFactdecreedintheEternalCouncils,couldnotbeputdown:theresultwas,thatheaven-bornPitthadactuallybeenfightingastheoldHebrewswouldhavesaidagainsttheLord,——thattheLawsofNaturewerestrongerthanPitt。Ofwhomthereforethereremainschieflyhisunaccountableradiationofguineas,forthegratitudeofposterity。Thankyoufornothing,——foreighthundredmillions_less_thannothing!

  OurWarOffices,Admiralties,andotherFightingEstablishments,areforcingthemselvesoneverybody’sattentionatthistime。

  Bullgrumblesaudibly:“Themoneyyouhavecostmethesefive-and-thirtyyears,duringwhichyouhavestoodelaboratelyreadytofightatanymoment,withoutatanymomentbeingcalledtofight,issurelyanastonishingsum。TheNationalDebtitselfmighthavebeenhalfpaidbythatmoney,whichhasallgoneinpipe-clayandblankcartridges!“Yes,Mr。Bull,themoneycanbecountedinhundredsofmillions;whichcertainlyissomething:——butthe“strenuouslyorganizedidleness,“andwhatmischiefthatamountsto,——haveyoucomputedit?Aperpetualsolecism,andblasphemyofitssort,settomarchopenlyamongus,dressedinscarlet!Bull,withamoreandmoresulkytone,demandsthatsuchsolecismbeabated;thattheseFightingEstablishmentsbeasitweredisbanded,andsettodosomeworkintheCreation,sincefightingthereisnownoneforthem。Thisdemandisirrefragablyjust,isgrowingurgenttoo;andyetthisdemandcannotbecompliedwith,——notyetwhiletheStategroundsitselfonunrealities,andDowningStreetcontinueswhatitis。

  TheoldRomansmadetheirsoldiersworkduringintervalsofwar。

  TheNewDowningStreettoo,wemaypredict,willhavelessandlesstoleranceforidlenessonthepartofsoldiersorothers。

  NaytheNewDowningStreet,Iforesee,whenonceithasgotits“_Industrial_Regiments“organized,willmakethesemainlydoitsfighting,whatfightingthereis;andsosaveimmensesums。Orindeed,allcitizensoftheCommonwealth,asistherightandtheinterestofeveryfreemaninthisworld,willhavethemselvestrainedtoarms;eachcitizenreadytodefendhiscountrywithhisownbodyandsoul,——heisnotworthytohaveacountryotherwise。InaStategroundedonveracities,thatwouldbetherule。DowningStreet,ifitcannotbethinkitselfofreturningtotheveracities,willhavetovanishaltogether!

  Tofightwithitsneighborsneverwas,andisnowlessthanever,therealtradeofEngland。ForfarotherobjectswastheEnglishPeoplecreatedintothisworld;sentdownfromtheEternities,tomarkwithitshistorycertainspacesinthecurrentofsublunaryTime!Essential,too,thattheEnglishPeopleshoulddiscoverwhatitsrealobjectsare;andresolutelyfollowthese,resolutelyrefusingtofollowotherthanthese。TheStatewillhavevictorysofarasitcandothat;sofarasitcannot,defeat。

  IntheNewDowningStreet,discerningwhatitsrealfunctionsare,andwithsacredabhorrenceputtingawayfromitwhatitsfunctionsarenot,wecanfancychangesenoughinForeignOffice,WarOffice,ColonialOffice,HomeOffice!OurWar-soldiers_Industrial_,firstofall;doingnoblerthanRomanworks,whenfightingisnotwantedofthem。Seventy-foursnothangingidlybytheiranchorsintheTagus,oroffSapienzaoneofthesaddestsightsunderthesun,butbusy,everySeventy-fourofthem,carryingoverstreamsofBritishIndustrialstotheimmeasurableBritainthatliesbeyondtheseaineveryzoneoftheworld。AStategroundingitselfontheveracities,notonthesemblancesandtheinjustices:everycitizenasoldierforit。Herewouldbenew_real_SecretaryshipsandMinistries,notforforeignwaranddiplomacy,butfordomesticpeaceandutility。MinisterofWorks;MinisterofJustice,——clearinghisModelPrisonsoftheirscoundrelism;shippinghisscoundrelswhollyabroad,underhardandjustdrill-sergeantshundredsofsuchstandwistfullyreadyforyou,thesethirtyyears,intheRag-and-FamishClubandelsewhere!intofertiledesertcountries;tomakerailways,——onebigrailwaysaystheMajor[Footnote:MajorCarmichaelSmith;seehisPamphletsonthissubject]quiteacrossAmerica;fittoemployalltheable-bodiedScoundrelsandefficientHalf-payOfficersinNature!

  Lastly,——orratherfirstly,andasthepreliminaryofall,wouldtherenotbeaMinisterofEducation?MinisterchargedtogetthisEnglishPeopletaughtalittle,athisandourperil!

  MinisterofEducation;nolongerdolefullyembayedamidthewreckofmoribund“religions,“butclearaheadofallthat;steering,freeandpiouslyfearless,towardshisdivinegoalundertheeternalstars!——Oheaven,andarethesethingsforeverimpossible,then?Notawhit。To-morrowmorningtheymightallbegintobe,andgoonthroughblessedcenturiesrealizingthemselves,ifitwerenotthat——alas,ifitwerenotthatwearemostofusinsincerepersons,shamtalking-machinesandhollowwindyfools!Whichitisnot“impossible“thatweshouldceasetobe,Ihope?

  ConstitutionsfortheColoniesarenowontheanvil;thediscontentedColoniesarealltobecuredoftheirmiseriesbyConstitutions。Whetherthatwillcuretheirmiseries,oronlyoperateasaGodfrey’s-cordialtostoptheirwhimpering,andintheendworsenalltheirmiseries,maybeasaddoubttous。OnethingstrikesaremotespectatorintheseColonialquestions:

  thesingularplaciditywithwhichtheBritishStatesmanatthistime,backedbyM’CroudyandtheBritishmoneyedclasses,ispreparedtosurrenderwhatsoeverinterestBritain,asfoundressofthoseestablishments,mightpretendtohaveinthedecision。

  “Ifyouwanttogofromus,go;webynomeanswantyoutostay:

  youcostusmoneyyearly,whichisscarce;desperatequantitiesoftroubletoo:whynotgo,ifyouwishit?“SuchisthehumoroftheBritishStatesman,atthistime——Menclearforrebellion,“annexation“astheycallit,walkopenlyabroadinourAmericanColonies;foundnewspapers,holdplatformpalaverings。FromCanadatherecomesdulybyeachmailaregularstatisticofAnnexationism:increasingfastinthisquarter,diminishinginthat;——Majesty’sChiefGovernorseemingtotakeitasaperfectlyopenquestion;Majesty’sChiefGovernorinfactseldomappearingonthesceneatall,excepttoreceivetheimpactofafewrotteneggsonoccasion,andthenduckinagaintohisprivatecontemplations。AndyetonewouldthinktheMajesty’sChiefGovernoroughttohaveakindofinterestinthething?PubliclibertyiscarriedtoagreatlengthinsomeportionsofherMajesty’sdominions。Butthequestion,“ArewetocontinuesubjectsofherMajesty,orstartrebellingagainsther?Somanyasareforrebelling,holdupyourhands!“HereisapublicdiscussionofaveryextraordinarynaturetobegoingonunderthenoseofaGovernorofCanada。HowtheGovernorofCanada,beingaBritishpieceoffleshandblood,andnotaCanadianlumber-logofmerepineandrosin,canstandit,isnotveryconceivableatfirstview。Hedoesit,seemingly,withthestoicismofaZeno。Itisaconstitutionalsightlikefew。

  AndyetaninstinctdeeperthantheGospelofM’CroudyteachesallmenthatColoniesareworthsomethingtoacountry!Thatif,underthepresentColonialOffice,theyareavexationtousandthemselves,someotherColonialOfficecanandmustbecontrivedwhichshallrenderthemablessing;andthattheremedywillbetocontrivesuchaColonialOfficeormethodofadministration,andbynomeanstocuttheColoniesloose。Coloniesarenottobepickedoffthestreeteveryday;notaColonyofthembuthasbeenboughtdear,wellpurchasedbythetoilandbloodofthosewehavethehonortobesonsof;andwecannotjustaffordtocutthemawaybecauseM’Croudyfindsthepresentmanagementofthemcostmoney。Thepresentmanagementwillindeedrequiretobecutaway;——butasfortheColonies,wepurposethroughHeaven’sblessingtoretainthemawhileyet!Shameonusforunworthysonsofbravefathersifwedonot。Bravefathers,byvaliantbloodandsweat,purchasedforus,fromthebountyofHeaven,richpossessionsinallzones;andwe,wretchedimbeciles,cannotdothefunctionofadministeringthem?Andbecausetheaccountsdonotstandwellintheledger,ourremedyis,nottotakeshametoourselves,andrepentinsackclothandashes,andamendourbeggarlyimbecilitiesandinsinceritiesinthatasinotherdepartmentsofourbusiness,buttoflingthebusinessoverboard,anddeclarethebusinessitselftobebad?Weareahopefulsetofheirstoabigfortune!ItdoesnotsuitourMantongunneries,grouseshootings,mousingsintheCity;andlikespiritedyounggentlemenwewillgiveitup,andlettheattorneystakeit?

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