42

ESSAYS IN PERSUASION

PART

point the way and hold up the hands of theparty of peace by having a plan and a conditionon which she will give her aid to the work ofrenewing life.

The impulse which, we are told, is now strongin the mind of the United States to be quit ofthe turmoil, the complication, the violence, theexpense, and, above all, the unintelligibility ofthe European problems, is easily understood.No one can feel more intensely than the writerhow natural it is to retort to the folly and im-practicability of the European statesmen,—Rot,then, in your own malice, and we will go ourway—

Remote from Europe ; from her blasted hopes;

Her fields of carnage, and polluted air.

But if America recalls for a moment whatEurope has meant to her and still means to her,what Europe , the mother of art and of know-ledge, in spite of everything, still is and stillwill be, will she not reject these counsels of in-difference and isolation, and interest herself inwhat may prove decisive issues for the progressand civilisation of all mankind?

Assuming then, if only to keep our hopes up,that America will be prepared to contribute tothe process of building up the good forces ofEurope , and will not, having completed thedestruction of an enemy, leave us to our mis-fortunes,—what form should her aid take?

I do not propose to enter on details. Butthe main outlines of all schemes for an inter-