tions, the preservation of our empire, and the
improvement of the condition of the people." The time was at hand when
England would have to decide between national and cosmopolitan principles,
and the issue was no mean one. "You must remember," he concluded, "that in
fighting against liberalism or the continental system, you are fighting
against those who have the advantage of power--against those who have been
high in place for nearly half a century. You have nothing to trust to but
your own energy and the sublime instinct of an ancient people."

Disraeli's genius, at once brooding over conceptions and penetrating in
discernment of fact, had shown him the vast tory reserves that his
household suffrage of 1867 would rally to his flag. The same genius again
scanning the skies read aright the signs and characteristics of the time.
Nobody would seriously have counselled intervention in arms between France
and Germany, yet many felt a vague humiliation at a resettlement of Europe
without England. Nobody seriously objected to the opening of the Black
Sea, yet many were affected by a restive consciousness of diplomatic
defeat. Everybody was glad that--as I am about to describe in the following
chapter--we had settled the outstanding quarrel with America, yet most
people were sore at the audacity of the indirect claims, followed by the
award of swingeing damages. National pride in short was silently but
deeply stirred; the steady splendour of the economic era for a season
paled in uncalculating minds. This coming mood the tory leader, with his
rare faculty of wide and sweeping forecast, confidently divined, and he
found for it the oracle of a party cry in phrases about Empire and Social
Reform. When power fell into his hands, he made no single move of solid
effect for either social reform or imperial unity. When Mr. Gladstone
committed himself to a policy, he brought in bills to carry it out.
Forecast without a bill is interesting, but not to be trusted.

Chapter IX. Washington And Geneva. (1870-1872)

Although I may think the sentence was harsh in its extent, and
unjust in its basis, I regard the fine imposed on this country as
dust in the balance compared with the moral value of the example
set when these two great nations of England and America--which are
among the most fiery and the most jealous in the world with regard
to anything that touches national honour--went in peace and concord