Page:The invasion of the Crimea vol. 1.djvu/72

30 ORIGIN OF THE WAR OF 1S53 CHAP, perhaps, by their desertion of him in his hour of IL trial. But, on the other hand, the Usage assures a Prince that if lie will but be firm in coming for- ward to redress a public wrong which chances to be collaterally hurtful to his own State, his cause will be singularly ennobled and strengthened by the acknowledgment of the principle that, al- though he is fighting for his own people, he is fighting also for every nation in the world which is interested in putting down the wrong-doer. Of course neither this nor any other human law or usage can have any real worth except in pro- portion to the respect and obedience with which it is regarded ; but since the Usage exacts nothing from any State except, what is really for its own good as well as for the general weal, it is very much obeyed, and is always respected in Europe. Indeed, a virtual compliance with the Usage is much more general than it might seem to be at first sight, for the known or foreseen determina- tion of a great State to resist the perpetration of a wrong is constantly tending with great force to the maintenance of peace, and peace being much less remarkable than war, the very success with which the principle works prevents it from being conspicuous. And, certainly, when the Usage is faithfully obeyed, it commonly proves a strong safeguard ; for, the interests of the various nations of Europe being much intertwined, a wrong done to any lesser State is likely to be in some way hurtful or dishonouring to one or other of the great Powers ; and if the great Power which ia