Page:The Spirit of the Chinese People.djvu/195

Rh actual rulers of Europe to day, Emperors, Kings and Presidents, bound in hand and foot and gagged by the mouth as they all are by Constitutions and Magna Chartas of Liberty,—these actual rulers have no say whatever in the government or conduct of public affairs in their countries. Poor King George of Great Britain, when he tried to say something to prevent a civil war over the Irish question, was peremptorily told by the plain men and women in Great Britain to hold his tongue and he had actually to apologise through his Prime Minister to the plain men and women for trying to do his duty as a King to prevent a civil war! In fact, the actual rulers of Europe today have become mere expensive ornamental figures as the figures on a seal with which Government official documents are stamped. Thus being mere ornamental figures without any say or will of their own as far as the government of their countries is concerned, how can it be said, that the actual rulers of Europe are responsible for this war?

Let us next examine the soldiers whom Professor Dickinson and everybody now denounces for being responsible for this war. Ruskin in addressing the cadets at Woolwich, says: "The fatal error of modern institutions is to to [sic] take away the best blood and strength of the nation, all the soul substance of it, that is brave, and careleesscareless [sic] of reward and scornful of pain and faithful in trust; and to cast that into steel and make a mere sword of it, taking away its voice and will; but to keep the worst part of the