Page:The invasion of the Crimea vol. 1.djvu/45

 BETWEEN THE CZAR AND THE SULTAN. 6 But afterwards, and for reasons unknown to the chap. shepherds, the chief Powers of the earth began to ; — , break in upon these peaceful scenes. France, England, and Turkey were the invader's, and these at a late: day were reinforced by Sardinia. With the whole might which she could put forth in a province far removed from her military centre, Russia stood her ground. The strife lasted a year and a half, and for twelve months it raged. And with this invasion there came something more than what men saw upon the battle-fields of the contending armies. In one of the Allied States, the people being free of speech and having power over the judgment of their rulers, were able to take upon themselves a great share of the business of the war. It was in vain that the whole breadth of Europe divided this people from the field of strife. By means unknown before, they gained fitful and vivid glimpses of the battle and the siege, of the sufferings of the camp and bivouac, and the last dismal scenes of the hospital tent ; and being thus armed from day to day with fresh knowledge, and feeling conscious of a warlike strength exceeding by a thousandfold the strength expressed by the mere numbers of their army, they thronged in, and made their voice heard, and be- came partakers of the counsels of State. The scene of the conflict was mainly their choice. They enforced the invasion. They watched it hour by hour. Through good and evil days they sustained it, and when by the yielding of their adversary the strife was brought to an end, they