History Records Many Such Dominations, Ancient And Modern,
Civilised Or Barbaric; And Though Education And Culture May Modify,
They Cannot Change Their Predominant Characteristics - A Continual
Subordination Of Justice To Expediency, An Indifference To Suffering,
A Disdain Of Ethical Principles, A Laxity Of Morals, And A Complete
Ignorance Of Economics.
The evil qualities of military hierarchies are
always the same.
The results of their rule are universally unfortunate.
The degree may vary with time and place, but the political supremacy of
an army always leads to the formation of a great centralised capital,
to the consequent impoverishment of the provinces, to the degradation
of the peaceful inhabitants through oppression and want, to the ruin of
commerce, the decay of learning, and the ultimate demoralisation even of
the military order through overbearing pride and sensual indulgence.
Of the military dominations which history records, the Dervish Empire
was probably the worst. All others have displayed compensating virtues.
A high sense of personal honour has counterbalanced a low standard of
public justice. An ennobling patriotism may partly repair economic
follies. The miseries of the people are often concealed by the
magnificence of the army. The laxity of morals is in some degree excused
by the elegance of manners. But the Dervish Empire developed no virtue
except courage, a quality more admirable than rare. The poverty of the
land prevented magnificence. The ignorance of its inhabitants excluded
refinement. The Dervish dominion was born of war, existed by war, and
fell by war. It began on the night of the sack of Khartoum.
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