求翻译一个句子

asamu

Is it not possible if the people whose convictions now give it an irresistible momentum began to see what only a few yet apprehend, they would recoil in horror and abandon the quest which for half a century has engaged so many people of googwill?

这句话到底想表达的是肯定还是否定的意思呢，是”如果……，人们会放弃那个追求吗？“还是“如果……，人们不可能放弃那个追求吗？”按照前者理解，作者标的的应该是人民不会放弃那个追求。如果按照后者理解，应该是人们会放弃那个追求。从上下文来看作者想表达的应该是前者，带有not 的疑问句怎么能翻译成这个意思呢？