Page:Popular Works of Johann Gottlieb Fichte (1889) Vol 2.djvu/236

 arose and was maintained by means of this Power, was further extended and enlarged, partly by the armed conquest of single States from the dominion of Non-Christianity, partly by peaceful conquest, by means of conversion of new Empires to Christianity, and by the consequent subjugation of these to the Central Spiritual Power.

The fundamental principles of this Christian Empire were, and for the most part are to the present day, the following: First, with respect to the Rights of Nations:—A State, because it is a Christian State, has a right of existence in its actually present condition; it is possessed of a perfectly independent Sovereignty, and no other Christian State, the Spiritual Central Power in its own peculiar office excepted, may demand a voice in the arrangement of its internal affairs. All Christian States stand towards each other in the position of reciprocal recognition and of original peace:—of original peace, I say; that is, there can no war arise with respect to the existence of a State, although war may well arise as to the fortuitous modifications of that existence. By this principle, a war of extermination between Christian States is strictly prohibited. Not so as regards Non-Christian States;—these, according to the same principle, have no recognised existence, and they not only may, but ought to be, expelled from the circle of Christian dominion. The Church gives them no peace; and should such a peace be conceded by Christian powers, this could only happen from necessity, or because the Christian principle is extinguished and other motives have taken its place. Secondly, with respect to Civil Rights:—Before God all men are free and equal;—in every Christian State all men without exception must have the means and opportunity conceded to them of devoting themselves to God, and in this respect at least be assured of Personal Freedom; and from this there readily follows