登陆注册
5406800000118

第118章 WAR OF THE SUCCESSION IN SPAIN(21)

The second danger was that Philip might have succeeded to the crown of his native country.This did not happen; but it might have happened; and at one time it seemed very likely to happen.Asickly child alone stood between the King of Spain and the heritage of Lewis the Fourteenth.Philip, it is true, solemnly renounced his claim to the French crown.But the manner in which he had obtained possession of the Spanish crown had proved the inefficacy of such renunciations.The French lawyers declared Philip's renunciation null, as being inconsistent with the fundamental law of the realm.The French people would probably have sided with him whom they would have considered as the rightful heir.Saint Simon, though much less zealous for hereditary monarchy than most of his countrymen, and though strongly attached to the Regent, declared, in the presence of that prince, that he never would support the claims of the House of Orleans against those of the King of Spain."If such," he said, "be my feelings, what must be the feelings of others?"Bolingbroke, it is certain, was fully convinced that the renunciation was worth no more than the paper on which it was written, and demanded it only for the purpose of blinding the English Parliament and people.

Yet, though it was at one time probable that the posterity of the Duke of Burgundy would become extinct, and though it is almost certain that, if the posterity of the Duke of Burgundy had become extinct, Philip would have successfully preferred his claim to the crown of France, we still defend the principle of the Treaty of Utrecht.In the first place, Charles had, soon after the battle of Villa-Viciosa, inherited, by the death of his elder brother, all the dominions of the House of Austria.Surely, if to these dominions he had added the whole monarchy of Spain, the balance of power would have been seriously endangered.The union of the Austrian dominions and Spain would not, it is true, have been so alarming an event as the union of France and Spain.But Charles was actually Emperor.Philip was not, and never might be, King of France.The certainty of the less evil might well be set against the chance of the greater evil.

But, in fact, we do not believe that Spain would long have remained under the government either of an Emperor or of a King of France.The character of the Spanish people was a better security to the nations of Europe than any will, any instrument of renunciation, or any treaty.The same energy which the people of Castile had put forth when Madrid was occupied by the Allied armies, they would have again put forth as soon as it appeared that their country was about to become a French province.Though they were no longer masters abroad, they were by no means disposed to see foreigners set over them at home.If Philip had attempted to govern Spain by mandates from Versailles, a second Grand Alliance would easily have effected what the first had failed to accomplish.The Spanish nation would have rallied against him as zealously as it had before rallied round him.And of this he seems to have been fully aware.For many years the favourite hope of his heart was that he might ascend the throne of his grandfather; but he seems never to have thought it possible that he could reign at once in the country of his adoption and in the country of his birth.

These were the dangers of the peace; and they seem to us to be of no very formidable kind.Against these dangers are to be set off the evils of war and the risk of failure.The evils of the war, the waste of life, the suspension of trade, the expenditure of wealth, the accumulation of debt, require no illustration.The chances of failure it is difficult at this distance of time to calculate with accuracy.But we think that an estimate approximating to the truth may, without much difficulty, be formed.The Allies had been victorious in Germany, Italy, and Flanders.It was by no means improbable that they might fight their way into the very heart of France.But at no time since the commencement of the war had their prospects been so dark in that country which was the very object of the struggle.In Spain they held only a few square leagues.The temper of the great majority of the nation was decidedly hostile to them.If they had persisted, if they had obtained success equal to their highest expectations, if they had gained a series of victories as splendid as those of Blenheim and Ramilies, if Paris had fallen, if Lewis had been a prisoner, we still doubt whether they would have accomplished their object.They would still have had to carry on interminable hostilities against the whole population of a country which affords peculiar facilities to irregular warfare, and in which invading armies suffer more from famine than from the sword.

We are, therefore, for the peace of Utrecht.We are indeed no admirers of the statesmen who concluded that peace.Harley, we believe, was a solemn trifler, St.John a brilliant knave.The great body of their followers consisted of the country clergy and the country gentry; two classes of men who were then inferior in intelligence to decent shopkeepers or farmers of our time.Parson Barnabas, Parson Trulliber, Sir Wilful Witwould, Sir Francis Wronghead, Squire Western, Squire Sullen, such were the people who composed the main strength of the Tory party during the sixty years which followed the Revolution.It is true that the means by which the Tories came into power in 1710 were most disreputable.

It is true that the manner in which they used their power was often unjust and cruel.It is true that, in order to bring about their favourite project of peace, they resorted to slander and deception, without the slightest scruple.It is true that they passed off on the British nation a renunciation which they knew to be invalid.It is true that they gave up the Catalans to the vengeance of Philip, in a manner inconsistent with humanity and national honour.But on the great question of Peace or War, we cannot but think that, though their motives may have been selfish and malevolent, their decision was beneficial to the State.

But we have already exceeded our limits.It remains only for us to bid Lord Mahon heartily farewell, and to assure him that, whatever dislike we may feel for his political opinions, we shall always meet him with pleasure on the neutral ground of literature.

同类推荐
  • 六壬经纬

    六壬经纬

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 八大灵塔梵赞

    八大灵塔梵赞

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 历代蒙求

    历代蒙求

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 香祖笔记

    香祖笔记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 六十种曲紫箫记

    六十种曲紫箫记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 笑傲仙缘

    笑傲仙缘

    千般法术,无穷大道,我只问一句,可得长生么?凌云踏上修仙路,只想求个长生。经历去凡九炼,化仙九劫,凌云终于得证仙道,成功飞升仙界,以为可以翱翔九天了。却不料,仙界和他想像中的不一样。犯我三界者,虽远必诛!大劫将之,凌云也像许多三界前辈一样,为了在大劫到来之时,有足够的实力,也横渡虚空,离开了三界。三界之外,是神魔的世界,许多前辈离开三界之后,就彻底失踪了,再无音讯。凌云等人进入神魔的世界,能不能激起浪花花一朵朵呢?
  • 麹头陀传

    麹头陀传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 严少心上放烟花

    严少心上放烟花

    重生前卓沐语以为自己嫁了个软萌软萌的傻瓜老公。重生后才知道自己嫁的是个大魔王!高贵冷漠的大人,一遇娇妻宠上瘾!某日,某包子:“爸比,你能不能抽空去拯救一下银河系?”某男:“为什么?”某包子:“因为小鱼儿(卓沐语)说娶她的人上辈子一定拯救了银河系!”“爸比你快去拯救银河系,下辈子就能娶小鱼儿了!”某男不上当:“那这辈子……”某娃挺胸,“这辈子小鱼儿当然是我的了!”某男邪魅挑眉,把这娃回炉重造还来得及吗?男女主身心干净,宠文一对一新文快穿宠文甜文《快穿宿主又撒糖了》
  • 武林故事

    武林故事

    无数事实、经验和理性已经证明:好故事可以影响人的一生。而以我们之见,所谓好故事,在内容上讲述的应是做人与处世的道理,在形式上也应听得进、记得住、讲得出、传得开,而且不会因时代的变迁而失去她的本质特征和艺术光彩。为了让更多的读者走进好故事,阅读好故事,欣赏好故事,珍藏好故事,传播好故事,我们特编选了一套“故事会5元精品系列”以飨之。其选择标准主要有以下三点:一、在《故事会》杂志上发表的作品。二、有过目不忘的艺术感染力。三、有恒久的趣味,对今天的读者仍有启迪作用。愿好故事伴随你的一生!
  • 奴隶皇兄

    奴隶皇兄

    他,本是最低贱的男奴却因为容貌相似,成了病死太子的替身这个混杂着恶魔与天使气质的女孩,曾经在他奴隶的时候救他和弟弟一命她是自己心目中不敢高攀的女神,此刻却成了自己的妹妹………*她,二十一世纪神偷穿越到一个陌生奴隶王朝,在鞭子下救下一对奴隶兄弟。却没想到其中的他却成了疼爱自己入骨的太子哥哥……*要将你揽入怀里的欲望难以忍耐,当对你的占有欲越来越强大他站在权利的顶峰告诉她——我已经在你身边,等你很久很久……*【紫奴】他是叶景辰奴隶时候最好的朋友,温柔,挣扎。【傅雪娆】妖孽,蛮华国第一奴妓,妖精一样的男子。【风轻扬】大将军,冷傲,邪魅。——————好友推荐——————————————金屋锁雀
  • 受益一生的投资计划

    受益一生的投资计划

    本书全面介绍了最实用的投资工具和高效的理财思路。从股票、基金、债券到期货、房产、保险和外汇等,涵盖了一个人一生最主要的投资方向。书中所提供的投资方法切实可行,同时还提供了简单的投资技巧和大量生动真实的投资案例,极具借鉴意义。这本书将彻底改变你的财富积累方式,让你的投资更安全理性,百万梦想不再遥远。
  • 鬼母肉身

    鬼母肉身

    公告:实体书上市后更名为《藏秘诡事之奴奴花卡卡》,各大售书网站及新华书店有售在经历了《生死轮回图》的劫给之后,洪力和师弟们本来打算离开天眼寺的,可谁知就在这天晚上,一个神秘的凶手潜入天眼寺,并于当晚杀死了一个和尚,残忍地剥下了他的皮!为了追查这个剥皮凶手,洪力他们跟着藏民央巴,一同来到一个叫”茕茕长街“的地方,在这里却碰到了比“剥皮者”更加诡异凶险的事……作者博客:http://m.wkkk.net/marylang
  • 邪魅王妃击垮闷王爷

    邪魅王妃击垮闷王爷

    我柳荃,21世纪最杰出的特工,风华绝代23年不料竟惨遭狗男女陷害,被迫服毒自尽。还好上天公道还我一个重生的机会。一朝醒来变成玄幻世界某个大陆的丞相府废材白痴大小姐,倒霉不说还遇上个脑残的流氓王爷,过五关斩六将的道路就这么开始了。修灵力,练丹药,收魂兽,养灵骸...无一不通,牛逼之路已然开启,打怪升级我无所不能!
  • 继承了一个帝国

    继承了一个帝国

    开局一座小村庄,缓缓的接收一个帝国的遗产,最终整压一方,东守,西征开创一个庞大的军事帝国!
  • 一周教会宝宝上厕所

    一周教会宝宝上厕所

    吉娜·福特是英国最受欢迎的育儿专家,30多年来亲手照看过300多名新生宝宝,有丰富的育儿经验,是英国上流社会及许多知名人士抢着预约的育儿顾问。多年以来,吉娜被认为是最受全球欢迎的“超级保姆”,她的工作地点遍及世界各地。她曾被英国时尚杂志《Hapers&Queen》评为全英十大著名产科护理员之一。