Seite:Marsh Hallig 1856.djvu/99

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THE POLICY OF NATIONS.

states well understand this, and would gladly keep
themselves and their lands aloof from these conflicts,
in which the right of the stronger is the only law, and
the sacredness of treaties only respected when main-
tained at the point of a hundred thousand bayonets.
But this balance would never suffer or have suffered
such disturbances if the ambitious projects of aggress-
ive states were not facilitated by the diplomatic policy
of opposing nations. If a successful opposition is com-
menced against such an aggressor, then comes diplomacy
with her eyes askance, and points out, with far-sighted
cunning, how easily an ally may win too much by the
common victory, but does not look at that which lies so
near, the advantage which the common enemy is to
draw from their mutual distrust, until it is too late. Is
not this the history of almost every war for the main-
tenance of the balance of power during the last hun-
dred years ?"
  "To convince you of the contrary," replied Oswald,
"I need only remind you of the last war against Na-
poleon, in which my father took a part."
  "That very struggle argues for me," continued Hold.
"It was, for oppressed princes and people, a moment of
inspiration which elevated them above the intrigues of
diplomatic policy. If this war had been carried on
with the same cold watchful calculation, with the same
one-sided political views as the preceding ones against
that great conqueror, what would have been the result ?
But whatever of magnanimity was at this time added to
the sagacity of statesmen, it arose only from the ex-
citement of the storm of counter-revolution, which was
shaking thrones, altars, and cabins ; it was no part of