hristian Charity and Peace, which far from being applicable only to
private concerns must have an immediate influence on the councils of
princes, and must guide all their steps as being the only means of
consolidating human institutions and remedying their imperfections."
They then proceeded to promise each other that they would remain united
"by the bonds of a true and indissoluble fraternity, and considering
each other as fellow-countrymen, they would on all occasions and in all
places lend each other aid and assistance." And more words to the same
effect.

Eventually the Holy Alliance was signed by the Emperor of Austria,
who did not understand a word of it. It was signed by the Bourbons who
needed the friendship of Napoleon's old enemies. It was signed by
the King of Prussia, who hoped to gain Alexander for his plans for a
"greater Prussia," and by all the little nations of Europe who were at
the mercy of Russia. England never signed, because Castlereagh thought
the whole thing buncombe. The Pope did not sign because he resented this
interference in his business by a Greek-Orthodox and a Protestant. And
the Sultan did not sign because he never heard of it.

The general mass of the European people, however, soon were forced to
take notice. Behind the hollow phrases of the Holy Alliance stood the
armies of the Quintuple Alliance which Metternich had created among the
great powers. These armies meant business. They let it be known that the
peace of Europe must not be disturbed by the so-called liberals who were
in reality nothing but disguised Jacobins, and hoped for a return of the
revolutionary days. The enthusiasm for the great wars of liberation of
the years 1812, 1818, 1814 and 1815 had begun to wear off. It had
been followed by a sincere belief in the coming of a happier day. The
soldiers who had borne the brunt of the battle wanted peace and they
said so.

But they did not want the sort of peace which the Holy Alliance and the
Council of the European powers had now bestowed upon them. They cried
that they had been betrayed. But they were careful lest they be heard
by a secret-police spy. The reaction was victorious. It was a reaction
caused by men who sincerely believed that their methods were necessary
for the good of humanity. But it was just as hard to bear as if their
intentions had been less kind. And it caused a great deal of unnecessary
suffering and greatly retarded the orderly progress of political
d