Part 14

Chapter 1

           

           TheBattleofBorodinó,withtheoccupationofMoscowthatfolloweditandtheflightoftheFrenchwithoutfurtherconflicts,isoneofthemostinstructivephenomenainhistory.

           Allhistoriansagreethattheexternalactivityofstatesandnationsintheirconflictswithoneanotherisexpressedinwars,andthatasadirectresultofgreaterorlesssuccessinwarthepoliticalstrengthofstatesandnationsincreasesordecreases.

           Strangeasmaybethehistoricalaccountofhowsomekingoremperor,havingquarreledwithanother,collectsanarmy,fightshisenemy’sarmy,gainsavictorybykillingthree,five,ortenthousandmen,andsubjugatesakingdomandanentirenationofseveralmillions,allthefactsofhistory(asfarasweknowit)confirmthetruthofthestatementthatthegreaterorlessersuccessofonearmyagainstanotheristhecause,oratleastanessentialindication,ofanincreaseordecreaseinthestrengthofthenation—eventhoughitisunintelligiblewhythedefeatofanarmy—ahundredthpartofanation—shouldobligethatwholenationtosubmit.Anarmygainsavictory,andatoncetherightsoftheconqueringnationhaveincreasedtothedetrimentofthedefeated.Anarmyhassuffereddefeat,andatonceapeoplelosesitsrightsinproportiontotheseverityofthereverse,andifitsarmysuffersacompletedefeatthenationisquitesubjugated.

           Soaccordingtohistoryithasbeenfoundfromthemostancienttimes,andsoitistoourownday.AllNapoleon’swarsservetoconfirmthisrule.

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