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Untitled - 24grammata.com

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of success, asINTERESTS OF GEEAT BRITAIN. 477a partyof the Directory anxiously wished forpeace ; but this party being overpowered by the majorityand forcibly driven from office, it again fell to the ground ;and, just as the negotiations with Austria were approachinga pacific termination, the British ambassador received ordersto quit France, and England was left alone to struggle withthe enemy.Now again the reiterated attacks of the opposition, theloud demands Why he still continued the war ? When hehoped to conclude a peace? again <strong>com</strong>pelled Pitt to explainhis views of the subject.He spoke them boldly and distinctly.However desirable the restoration of the monarchyin France might be, (no one at this time ventured even tothink of the reinstatement of the Bourbons,) it was not insisted upon as an absolute condition ;much less the entire'restoration of the ancient form of government. Even withFrance as a republic peace might possibly be concluded,provided that it could be a secure peace. But since thepolitics of the Directory clearly showed that it had adoptedthe revolutionary principlesin all their force, Pitt resolutelyadhered to his principle: better no peace than an insecure1one ! "I have never believed," said he, "that we could nottreat with France as a republic. Whatever I may,in theabstract, think of the kind of government called awhatever republic,may be its fitness to the nation where it prevails,there may be times when it would not be dangerous toexist in its vicinity.But while the spirit of France remainswhat at present it is, its government despotic, vindictive,unjust, with a temper untamed, a character unchanged, ifitspower to do wrong at all remains, there does not existany security for this country or Europe. In my view of security, every object of -ambition and aggrandizement isabandoned. Our simple object is security, just security,with a little mixture of indemnification. These are the legitimate objects of war at all times ;and when we haveattained that end, we are in a condition to derive frompeace its beneficent advantages ; but until then, our dutyand our interest require that we should persevere unappalledin the struggle to which we were provoked. Weshall not be satisfied with a false security. War with all its1Speeches, iii. p. 85.

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