APOSTLES OF THE NEW ERA

As we survey the possible reforms which are to set up a new and better Europe on the ruin of the old, we naturally ask ourselves with some disquietude:  Who are the personalities, and what are the forces required for so tremendous a change?  Who are sufficient for these things?  Are kings likely to be saviours of society?  Past experience hardly favours this suggestion.  Will soldiers and great generals help us?  Here, again, we may be pardoned for a very natural suspicion.  Every one knows that a benevolent despotism has much to recommend it.  But, unfortunately, the benevolent are not usually despotic, nor are despots as a rule benevolent.  Can diplomatists help us?  Not so far as they continue to mumble the watchwords of their ancient mystery:  they will have to learn a new set of formulae, or more likely, perhaps, they will find that ordinary people, who have seen to what a pass diplomacy has brought us, may work out for themselves some better system.  Clearly the tasks of the future will depend on the co-operation of intelligent, far-sighted philanthropic reformers in the various states of the world, who will recognise that at critical periods of the world’s history they must set to work with a new ardour to think out problems from the very beginning.  We want fresh and intelligent minds, specially of the younger idealists, keen, ardent, and energetic souls, touched with the sacred fire, erecting the fabric of humanity on a novel basis.  Democracy will have a great deal to do in the new Europe.  It, too, had better refurbish its old watchwords.  It has got to set itself patiently to the business of preventing future wars by the extension of its sympathies and its clear discernment of all that imperils its future development and progress.  Above all, it has got to solve that most difficult problem of creating a Public Will and a Common Conscience in Europe, a conscience sensitive to the demands of a higher ethics, and a will to enforce its decrees against obstructives and recalcitrants.  We do not see our way clear as yet, it is true.  But we have a dim idea of the far-seen peaks towards which we must lift up our eyes.  It is the greatest enterprise which humanity has ever been called upon to face, and, however difficult, it is also the most splendid.

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