nly way that any power could keep clear, and still hope to hold
its own, would be by holding fighting forces in hand equal to, or
superior, to the combined power of all the nations forming the Court,
which would be simply impossible.

Such a Court once established would increase in numbers quickly,
until the whole civilized world had joined, and then war, among the
said civilized nations, would be at an end, or rather, if there was
war, it would be the many against the one, a justifiable, a quick,
decisive war, with only one possible ending. The first would probably
be the first and last!

Then would armies be reduced to the small dimensions necessary to
enforce order in each country. Then would the sufferings, the
dreadful horrors entailed by war, cease. Then would the millions
sterling of expenditure on bloated armaments, representing
incalculable labour wasted, come to an end, and thus allow of light
taxation. Then would there be food for all, and, as a consequence of
less want, less crime. Then could great works, benefiting all
mankind, be executed. Then would man progress as he has never done
yet. In a word, the millennium, at present a religious myth, would
then be realized!

Oh! that abler pens than mine, that some great statesman, would take
this subject in hand. That the press would agitate it, that nations
would _try_ and carry it out, not on the rude outlines I have given,
so faulty in all but intention, but on the collective wisdom of the
great and wise on earth. If it failed, what harm? If it succeeded,
what millions yet unborn would bless their efforts!

As I write I see that the great European Powers are about to deliver
an ultimatum to Greece, backed with force if disregarded, to stay her
warlike preparations against Turkey and disarm. Of the _wisdom_ of
the step, both in the interests of Greece and the said great Powers,
there can be but one opinion, viz. that it is well. But of the
_right_ so to act on the part of the Powers, of the justice thereof,
I do not think there can be the same unanimity in the affirmative. I
for one think the Powers are in no way justified. Were Greece a great
kingdom instead of a very little one, they would not do so. The fact
of her being weak can be no argument in favour of the course taken.
When France wantonly tried to invade Germany some years back, there
was quite as much, nay more, reason for united action to restrain
her. But such an idea was never mooted, simply