The Holy Alliance, therefore, soon assumed the character of a "Trust" of absolute monarchs, determined to aid each other when threatened by risings or agitations among their peoples, and to crush liberal aspirations wherever they were to be found in other parts of Europe.

The popular desire for peace was exploited in the interests of unpopular government; settlement by conference in regard to international matters was extended to settlement by a cabal of irresponsible crowned heads in regard to internal constitutional and national questions; a clique of despots threatened the liberties of the world and proposed to back up their decisions by using their armies as police.

One government, however, even in that period of reaction, refused to lend its countenance to such proceedings.

England at first protested and at length took up an attitude of complete opposition, and it is due to her that the Confederation never became really effective.

She had to choose between peace and liberty, and she chose the latter.[1] [Footnote 1: See Alison Phillips, _The Confederation of Europe_, together with his chapter on "The Congresses, 1815-1822" in vol.x.of the _Cambridge Modern History_.