Page:Eminent English liberals in and out of Parliament.djvu/139

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HENRY RICHARD.
125

division and discord among nations. Were it not for wars, the occupation of kings would be gone, and the credit of the kingly form of government would sink to zero. In other words, Europe must become a federated, self-governing republic, before the world can hope to attain to a permanent peace. Until the people are sovereign, until the "United States of Europe" have been established, "the ogre of war," as Bastiat has well said, "will cost as much for his digestion as for his meals." Till democracy has in every state put down all her enemies under her feet, there cannot, in the nature of things, be any genuine disarmament.

Let Mr. Richard ponder this matter, and prepare to deal less gently than he has been in the habit of doing with the causes of war,—with the aforesaid sovereigns and statesmen. Does he want a text to warrant him in seeking to rid the world of these illustrious vultures? Here is one that ought to suit him: "Ye know that they which are accounted to rule over the Gentiles exercise lordship over them, and their great ones exercise authority upon them. But so shall it not be among you; but whosoever will be great among you shall be your minister. And whosoever shall be the chiefest shall be the servant of all."

They who exercise lordship over us tell us of patriotism. What is patriotism? I have seen some of the votaries of the patriotic goddess at their devotions. I witnessed the loathsome exploits of the Hyde Park Jingoes, and I saw the Cannon-street Hotel sacked by the unconvicted thieves of the Stock Exchange. I have had enough of patriotism for a lifetime. I agree with Dr. Johnson that "patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel." There is but one fatherland,—the world;