"Thus it is difficult for us the conceive the issue in the same way as people at the time would have done."

I agree entirely . If we judge everything in todays standards and protocols we open many cans of worms when dealing with the past .

To have an active interest in history is commendable but to judge past events and be consumed by their inhumanity by todays political correctness is argument for arguments sake.
Many folk use the freedom of Mudcats Laisse-faire policy to indulge in personal abuse but deny our forebears the same the same right in their affairs. Have we actually learned anything ?