THE DEMEANOUR OF ENGLAND. 333 member all such duties in peace-time, but at chat last, when war couies, to seek out the best !_ wielders of power that popular eyes discern, then trust, deeply trust them, supporting the rulers at home and the commanders abroad, with a gen- erous, loyal devotion — to do this, to do even all this, will not indeed build up the certainty of triumphantly carrying on war ; but perhaps, after all, such a plan may be the best that there is : for what other one can be offered as likely to answer so well ? A free people engaged in war must always, of course, watch with eagerness the progress of its great undertaking ; and their instincts may aid the State largely by inspiring its choice of men, whilst, moreover, they can well serve their country by imparting to its Government in private so much of their own ample knowledge as may seem to be needed for use ; (}^^) but they can hardly do good by burrowing under the offices, whether civil or military, in chase after business details. It is true that for even the highest of those public functionaries who carry on the business of war, there is need of the will and the power to be careful over numberless things which, although at first sight looking trivial, may have closely to do with great issues ; but from the complexity and division of labour belonging to modern society, it results that the duties of private citizens in time of war are other than those which attach upon the servants of the State, and can often be better performed by trying to be patient and generous, than by
