第10章 権力の源泉としての信条 n.7 - 二つの対立する公理
意見の一致は協力への助けとなることは明らかである。スペイン内戦においては,無政府主義者も共産主義者もバスク民族主義者も皆等しくフランコ(将軍)の敗北を望んだけれども,彼らの間の協力は困難であった。同様にして,程度はより低いが,他方の側(敵側)では,カルロス党員(注:スペインの王制擁護の党)と現代型のファシスト(国家主義者)との間の協力も困難であった。直接の目的についての一致が必要であり,一定(程度)の気質上の相性もまた必要である。しかし,そうしたものさえあれば,意見大きな違いは無害になるかも知れない(可能性がある)。半島戦争(注:Peninsular War, 1808- 1814, イベリア半島でスペイン軍、ポルトガル軍、イギリス軍の連合軍とフランス帝国軍との間に戦われた戦争)についての史家であるウィリアム・ネイピア卿は,ナポレオンを賛美し,ウェリントン将軍(注:)を嫌っており,彼の著書を読むと,ナポレオンの敗北を彼が残念に思っていたことがよくわかる。しかし,彼の階級感情と軍務を果たすのだという感情(の方)がそのような純粋に知的な確信に優先し,あたかも高貴な生れのトーリー党員(注:トーリー党は現在の英国保守党の前身)のように,有能に,フランスと戦った。これと同様に,今日の英国のトーリー党員たちは(も),時至らば,(全体主義者/国家主義者である)ヒットラーの賛美者でなければ,力強く(庶民の出である)ヒットラーと戦うことであろう。 |
Chapter X: Creeds as Sources of Power, n.7To arrive at the truth in this matter, it is necessary to find a compromise between two opposite truisms. The first of these is: men who agree in their beliefs can co-operate more whole-heartedly than men who disagree. The second is: men whose beliefs are in accordance with fact are more likely to succeed than men whose beliefs are mistaken. Let us examine each of these truisms.That agreement is a help in co-operation is obvious. In the civil war in Spain, co-operation has been difficult between anarchists, communists, and Basque nationalists, though all equally desired the defeat of Franco. In the same manner, though in a less degree, on the other side, co-operation has been difficult between Carlists and modern-style Fascists. There is need of agreement as to immediate ends, and also of a certain temperamental congeniality; but where these exist, great differences of opinion may become harmless. Sir William Napier, the historian of the Peninsular War, admired Napoleon and disliked Wellington ; his book shows that he considered the defeat of Napoleon regrettable. But his sentiment of caste and his feeling of military duty overrode such purely intellectual convictions, and he fought the French as competently as if he had been a high Tory. In like manner, should the occasion arise, British Tories of the present day will fight Hitler just as vigorously as they would if they did not admire him. |