The Life of Samuel Taylor Coleridge: 1838Gillman, James
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The Life of Samuel Taylor Coleridge: 1838
Gillman, James
Coleridge, Samuel Taylor, 1772-1834; Critics -- Great Britain -- Biography; Poets, English -- 19th century -- Biography
But surely there may allowably exist in the minds of
different men different means of arriving at the same security. This
difference may, without breaking the ties of effective union, exist
even in this house; how much more then in different kingdoms? The
Emperor of Russia may have announced the restoration of monarchy, as
exclusively his object. This is not considered as the ultimate object
by this country, but as the best means and most reliable pledge of a
higher object, viz. our own security, and that of Europe; but we do
not confine ourselves to this, as the only possible means.
From this shade of difference we are required to infer the
impossibility of cordial co-operation! But here the honourable
gentleman falls into a strange contradiction. He affirms the
restoration of monarchy an unjust object of the war, and refuses
expressly and repeatedly to vote a single farthing on such a ground;
and yet the supposed secession of Russia from the allied powers, the
secession of that government, whose 'exclusive' object is the
restoration of monarchy, is adduced by him as another and equal ground
for his refusal. Had the Emperor of Russia persevered in directing his
utmost forces to the attainment of that object, to which Austria will
not pledge herself, and which the honourable gentleman considers as an
unjust object, then the honourable gentleman would have been
satisfied. But I will not press too hard on the honourable gentleman,
or lay an undue weight on an inadvertence. I will deal most fairly
with him if I did believe, which I do not, that Austria saw no
advantages in the restoration of monarchy, yet still I would avail
myself of her efforts, without changing my own object. Should the
security of Britain and Europe result from the exertions of Austria,
or be aided by her influence, I should think it my duty to advise his
Majesty to lend the Emperor every financial assistance, however those
exertions and that influence might spring from principles not in
unison with our own.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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