It may be seen the position is delicate as well as difficult, and in writing a preliminary note one point should be emphasised.

We must not evade a difficulty because it is delicate and dangerous, and we must not temporise.

In a physical contest on the field of battle it is allowable to use tactics and strategy, to retreat as well as advance, to have recourse to a ruse as well as open attack; but _in matters of principle there can be no tactics, there is one straightforward course to follow, and that course must be found and followed without swerving to the end_..