Page 246 - The interest of America in sea power, present and future

A Twentieth- Century Outlook. 227

It is odd to watch the unconscious, resist-
less movements of nations, and at the same
time read the crushing characterization by our
teachers of the press of those who, by per-
sonal characteristics or by accident, happen to
be thrust into the position of leaders, when at
the most they only guide to the least harm
forces which can no more be resisted perma-
nently than can gravitation. Such would have
been the role of Nicholas, guiding to a timely
end the irresistible course of events in the
Balkans, which his opponents sought to with-
stand, but succeeded only in prolonging and
aggravating. He is honored now by those
who see folly in the imperial aspirations of
Mr. Joseph Chamberlain, and piracy in Mr.
Cecil Rhodes yet, after all, in his day, what
;
right had he, by the code of strict construc-
tionists of national legal rights, to put Turkey
to death because she was sick ? Was not
Turkey in occupation ? Had she not, by
strict law, a right to her possessions, and to
live ; yea, and to administer what she con-
sidered justice to those who were legally her
subjects ? But men are too apt to forget that
law is the servant of equity, and that while