As this is written, the world is filled with the clang of contending armies.
For the general in the war, or a common soldier, or a citizen of one of the contending nations, the stimulus to thinking is direct and urgent.
What side would be likely to prevail in such a conflict, must depend on the means which the contending parties could employ toward insuring success.
Every alehouse resounded with the brawls of contending politicians, and as mine host's politics were of that liberal description which quarrelled with no good customer, his hebdomadal visitants were often divided in their opinion as irreconcilably as if he had feasted the Common Council.