PHI LOS 0 P H Y . - Classic Works of Apologetics Online

Military Establishments. 485
edges that it is often neces~ary to assert the honour
of a nation for the sake of its interest. The spirit
and courage of a people are ~npported by flattering
their pride. Concessions Wllich betray too much of
fear or weakness, though they relate to peints of
mere ceremony, invite denlands and attacks of more
serious importance. Our rule allows all this; and
only directs that, when points of honour become
subjects of contention between sovereigns" or are
likely to be made the cccasions of war, the;, be estimated
with a reference to utility, and not by themselves.
"The dignity of his crown, the honour of his
flag, the glory of his arms," in the mouth of a prince
are stately and imposing terms; but the ideas they
inspire are insatiable. It may always be glorious t()
conquer, whatever be the jusrice of the war, or the
price of the victory. The dignity of a sovereign may
not permit him to recede from claims of homage
and respect, at \vhatever expense of national peace and
happiness they are to be maintaiIled, however unjust
they may have been in their original, or in their con·
tinuance however usele~s to the poss~~sor, or mortifying
and vexatious to other states.· The pursuit of
honour, when 8ft loose froln th~ admonitions of prudence,
becomes in kings a wild and romalltic passion:
eager to eng3ge, and gathering fury in its progress,
it is checked by no difficulties, repelled by no dangers;
it forgets or despises those considerations of
safety, ease, wealth, and plenty, which in the eye of
true public wisdom, compcse the objects to which the
renown of arms, the fame of victory, are only instrumental
and subordinate. l~he pllrsuit of interest,- en
tIle other hand, is a sober princiJ)le; computes costs
and consequences; is calltious of entering into \\7ar ;
stops in time: when regulated by those univenal
maxim~ of relative jl1~tic(', which belong t') the affairs
of communities ac; well as of private per.:;on!\, it
is t!lC right principle f()r natiollS to pr()ceed by; ever~
whe~l it trespasses upon these regulation~, j[ is much
les
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