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cabbala； useless either to the simple…minded or to the logical； intended
only for the plaything of a few devout fancies； it must declare the
unchangeable laws by which the unchangeable God is governing； and has
always governed； the human race； and therefore only by understanding
what has happened； can we understand what will happen； only by
understanding history； can we understand prophecy； and that not merely
by picking outtoo often arbitrarily and unfairlya few names and dates
from the records of all the ages； but by trying to discover its organic laws；
and the causes which produce in nations； creeds； and systems； health and
disease； growth； change； decay and death。 If； in one small corner of this
vast field； I shall have thrown a single ray of light upon these subjectsif I
shall have done anything in these pages towards illustrating the pathology
of a single people； I shall believe that I have done better service to the
Catholic Faith and the Scriptures； than if I did really 〃know the times and
the seasons； which the Father has kept in His own hand。〃 For by the
former act I may have helped to make some one man more prudent and
brave to see and to do what God requires of him； by the latter I could only
add to that paralysis of superstitious fear； which is already but too
common among us； and but too likely to hinder us from doing our duty
manfully against our real foes； whether it be pestilence at home or tyranny
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abroad。
These last words lead me to another subject； on which I am bound to
say a few words。 I have； at the end of these Lectures； made some
allusion to the present war。 To have entered further into political
questions would have been improper in the place where those Lectures
were delivered： but I cannot refrain from saying here something more on
this matter； and that； first； because all political questions have their real
root in moral and spiritual ones； and not （as too many fancy） in questions
merely relating to the balance of power or commercial economy； and are
（the world being under the guidance of a spiritual； and not a physical
Being） finally decided on those spiritual grounds； and according to the just
laws of the kingdom of God； and； therefore； the future political horoscope
of the East depends entirely on the present spiritual state of its inhabitants；
and of us who have （and rightly） taken up their cause； in short； on many of
those questions on which I have touched in these Lectures： and next；
because I feel bound； in justice to myself； to guard against any mistake
about my meaning or supposition that I consider the Turkish empire a
righteous thing； or one likely to stand much longer on the face of God's
earth。
The Turkish empire； as it now exists； seems to me an altogether
unrighteous and worthless thing。 It stands no longer upon the assertion
of the great truth of Islam； but on the merest brute force and oppression。
It has long since lost the only excuse which one race can have for holding
another in subjection； that which we have for taking on ourselves the
tutelage of the Hindoos； and which Rome had for its tutelage of the
Syrians and Egyptians； namely； the governing with tolerable justice those
who cannot govern themselves； and making them better and more
prosperous people； by compelling them to submit to law。 I do not know
when this excuse is a sufficient one。 God showed that it was so for
several centuries in the case of the Romans； God will show whether it is in
the case of our Indian empire： but this I say； that the Turkish empire has
not even that excuse to plead； as is proved by the patent fact that the whole
East； the very garden of the old world； has become a desert and a ruin
under the upas…blight of their government。
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As for the regeneration of Turkey； it is a question whether the
regeneration of any nation which has sunk； not into mere valiant savagery；
but into effete and profligate luxury； is possible。 Still more is it a
question whether a regeneration can be effected； not by the rise of a new
spiritual idea （as in the case of the Koreish）； but simply by more perfect
material appliances； and commercial prudence。 History gives no instance；
it seems to me； of either case； and if our attempt to regenerate Greece by
freeing it has been an utter failure； much more； it seems to me； would any
such attempt fail in the case of the Turkish race。 For what can be done
with a people which has lost the one great quality which was the tenure of
its existence； its military skill？ Let any one read the accounts of the
Turkish armies in the fifteenth； sixteenth； and seventeenth centuries； when
they were the tutors and models of all Europe in the art of war； and then
consider the fact that those very armies require now to be officered by
foreign adventurers； in order to make them capable of even keeping
together； and let him ask himself seriously； whether such a fall can ever be
recovered。 When； in the age of Theodosius； and again in that of Justinian；
the Roman armies had fallen into the same state； when the Italian legions
required to be led by Stilicho the Vandal； and the Byzantine by Belisar the
Sclav and Narses the Persian； the end of all things was at hand； and came；
as it will come soon to Turkey。
But if Turkey deserves to fall； and must fall； it must not fall by our
treachery。 Its sins will surely be avenged upon it： but wrong must not
avenge wrong； or the penalty is only passed on from one sinner to another。
Whatsoever element of good is left in the Turk； to that we must appeal as
our only means； if not of saving him； still of helping him to a quiet
euthanasia； and absorption into a worthier race of successors。 He is said
（I know not how truly） to have one virtue left； that of faithfulness to his
word。 Only by showing him that we too abhor treachery and