Palmerston's successor was William Ewart Gladstone, who deeply loathed the way the previous British Governments had constantly involved themselves in European affairs.
Gladstone had served as Chancellor of the Exchequer for many years, so he understood better than anyone what those interventions had brought—endless debt.
In fact, in Gladstone's view, no nation needed to compete for Britain's position at all. In just a few years, great Britain would be crushed beneath its own debts.
Thus, Gladstone had always advocated suspending intervention in European affairs and focusing on domestic development. What he wanted was a "small government."
Yet the moment Gladstone truly took the position of prime minister, he immediately felt the pressure bearing down on him. The Austrian Empire was indeed threatening Britain's status.
There were few areas where the two sides' interests overlapped; the Austrian Empire had even taken the initiative to avoid conflict.
Yet they pointed toward two utterly different paths. If the Austrians truly succeeded in walking theirs, then Britain would no longer be the one and only correct answer.
But the current situation did not support Britain continuing the fight. At last, he understood why all his predecessors had become so depressed.
There seemed to be no right choice before Britain now. At best, they could only keep matters from getting quite so bad.
For starters, even if Gladstone could persuade Parliament to declare war on the Austrian Empire, what would they be facing?
An incomparably powerful Austrian Empire, and a Russia that had promised to send troops. Could Britain win? And what could it gain?
What would Britain have to pay in order to achieve victory?
Was it worth it?
How would history judge him?
For that vague and intangible future, for the merchants and factory owners of other nations, was it truly worth it?