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religious； moral； social； and political foundations as Turkey is；
is like a corpse； which may indeed be held up for a time by the
support of the living； but must none the less pass into corruption。
The case is quite the same with the Persians as with the Turks；
with the Chinese and Hindoos and all other Asiatic people。 Wherever
the mouldering civilisation of Asia comes into contact with the
fresh atmosphere of Europe； it falls to atoms； and Europe will
sooner or later find herself under the necessity of taking the
whole of Asia under her care and tutelage； as already India has
been so taken in charge by England。 In this utter chaos of
countries and peoples there exists no single nationality which is
either worthy or capable of maintenance and regeneration。 Hence the
entire dissolution of the Asiatic nationalities appears to be
inevitable； and a regeneration of Asia only possible by means of an
infusion of European vital power； by the general introduction of
the Christian religion and of European moral laws and order； by
European immigration； and the introduction of European systems of
government。
If we reflect on the course which such a regeneration might
possibly pursue； the first consideration that strikes one is that
the greater part of the East is richly provided by nature with
resources for supplying the manufacturing nations of Europe with
great quantities of raw materials and necessary articles of every
kind； but especially for producing tropical products； and in
exchange for these for opening unlimited markets to European
manufacturers。 From this circumstance； nature appears to have given
an indication that this regeneration； as generally is the case with
the civilisation of barbarous peoples； must proceed by the path of
free exchange of agricultural produce against manufactured goods。
For that reason the principle must be firmly maintained above all
by the European nations； that no exclusive commercial privileges
must be reserved to any European nation in any part of Asia
whatever； and that no nation must be favoured above others there in
any degree。 It would be especially advantageous to the extension of
this trade； if the chief commercial emporiums of the East were
constituted free cities； the European population of which should
have the right of self…government in consideration of an annual
payment of tax to the native rulers。 But European agents should be
appointed to reside with these rulers； after the example of English
policy in India； whose advice the native rulers should be bound to
follow in respect of the promotion of public security order； and
civilisation。
All the Continental powers have especially a common interest
that neither of the two routes from the Mediterranean to the Red
Sea and to the Persian Gulf should fall into the exclusive
possession of England； nor remain impassable owing to Asiatic
barbarism。 To commit the duty of protecting these important points
to Austria； would insure the best guarantees to all European
nations。
Further； the Continental powers in general have a common
interest with the United States in maintaining the principle that
'free ships cover free goods；' and that only an effectual blockade
of individual ports； but not a mere proclamation of the blockade of
entire coasts； ought to be respected by neutrals。 Finally； the
principle of the annexation of wild and uninhabited territories
appears to require revision in the common interest of the
Continental powers。 People ridicule in our days the fact that the
Holy Father formerly undertook to make presents of islands and
parts of the globe； nay even to divide the world into two parts
with a stroke of the pen； and to apportion this part to one man and
that to another。 Can it； however； be deemed much more sensible to
acknowledge the title to an entire quarter of the globe to vest in
the man who first erected somewhere on the earth a pole adorned
with a piece of silk？ That in the case of islands of moderate size
the right of the discoverer should be respected； may be admitted
consistently with common sense； but when the question arises as to
islands which are as large as a great European kingdom （like New
Zealand） or respecting a continent which is larger than the whole
of Europe （like Australia）； in such a case by nothing less than an
actual occupation by colonisation； and then only for the actually
colonised territory； can a claim to exclusive possession be
admitted consistently with common sense。 And it is not clear why
the Germans and the French should not have the right to found
colonies in those parts of the world at points which are distant
from the English stations。
If we only consider the enormous interests which the nations of
the Continent have in common； as opposed to the English maritime
supremacy； we shall be led to the conviction that nothing is so
necessary to these nations as union； and nothing is so ruinous to
them as Continental wars。 The history of the last century also
teaches us that every war which the powers of the Continent have
waged against one another has had for its invariable result to
increase the industry； the wealth； the navigation； the colonial
possessions； and the power of the insular supremacy。
Hence； it cannot be denied that a correct view of the wants and
interests of the Continent underlaid the Continental system of
Napoleon； although it must not be ignored that Napoleon desired to
give effect to this idea （right in itself） in a manner which was
contrary to the independence and to the interests of the other
Continental powers。 The Continental system of Napoleon suffered
from three capital defects。 In the first place； it sought to
establish； in the place of the English maritime supremacy； a French
Continental supremacy； it sought the humiliation； or destruction
and dissolution； of other nationalities on the Continent for the
benefit of France； instead of basing itself on the elevation and
equalisation of the other Continental nations。 Furthermore； France
followed herself an exclusive commercial policy against the other
countries of the Continent； while she claimed for herself free
competition in those countries。 Finally； the system almost entirely
destroyed the trade between the manufacturing countries of the
Continent and tropical countries； and found itself compelled to
find a remedy for the destruction of this international trade by
the use of substituted articles。（1*）
That the idea of this Continental system will ever recur； that
the necessity of realising it will the more forcibly impress itself
on the Continental nations in proportion as the preponderance of
England in industry； wealth； and power further increases； is
already very clear； and will continually become more evident。 But
it is not less certain that an alliance of the Continental nations
can only have a good result if France is wise enough to avoid the
errors of Napoleon。 Hence； it is foolish of France if she raises
（contrary to all justice； and to the actual nature of
circumstances） claims for extension of frontiers at the expense of
Germany； and thereby compels other nations of the Continent to ally
themselves with England。
It is foolish of France if she speaks of the Mediterranean Sea
as of a French lake； and seeks to acquire exclusive influence in
the Levant and in South America。
An effective Continental system can only originate from the
free union of the Continental powers； and c