THE MILITANT TYPE OF SOCIETY. 769 



of militant societies in general. How little, under the militant regime, 

 more or less markedly displayed in all early historic societies, there 

 was any sentiment against depriving men of their liberties, is suffi- 

 ciently shown by the fact that even in the teachings of primitive 

 Christianity there was no express condemnation of slavery. Naturally 

 the like holds with the right of property. Where mastery established 

 by force is honorable, claims to possession by the weaker are likely to 

 be little respected by the stronger. In Feejee it is considered chief -like 

 to seize a subject's goods ; and theft is virtuous if undiscovered. In 

 Dahomey the king *' squeezes " any one as soon as he acquires property. 

 Among the Spartans "the ingenious and successful pilferer gained 

 applause with his booty." In mediaeval Europe with perpetual rob- 

 beries of one society by another there went perpetual robberies within 

 each society. Under the Merovingians " the murders and crimes it 

 ["The Ecclesiastical History of the Franks"] relates have almost 

 all for their object the possession of the treasure of the murdered 

 persons " ; and under Charlemagne plunder by officials was chronic : 

 the moment his back was turned "the provosts of the king appro- 

 priated the funds intended to furnish food and clothing for the 

 artisans." 



Where warfare is habitual, and the required qualities most needful 

 and therefore most honored, those whose lives do not display them are 

 treated with contempt, and their occupations regarded as dishonorable. 

 In early stages labor is the business of women and of slaves con- 

 quered men and the descendants of conquered men ; and trade of 

 every kind, carried on by subject classes, long continues to be identi- 

 fied with lowness of origin and nature. In Dahomey, " agriculture is 

 despised because slaves are employed in it." " The Japanese nobles 

 and placemen, even of secondary rank, entertain a sovereign contempt 

 for traffic." Of the ancient Egyptians Wilkinson says, "Their preju- 

 dices against mechanical employments, as far as regarded the soldier, 

 were equally strong as in the rigid Sparta." " For trade and com- 

 merce the (ancient) Persians were wont to express extreme contempt," 

 writes Rawlinson. The progress of class differentiation which accom- 

 panied the conquering wars of the Romans, was furthered by estab- 

 lishment of the rule that it was disgraceful to take money for work, 

 and also by the law forbidding senators and senators' sons from en- 

 gaging in speculation. And how great has been the scorn expressed 

 by the militant classes for the trading classes throughout Europe down 

 to quite recent times, needs no showing. 



That there may be willingness to risk life for the benefit of the so- 

 ciety, there must be much of the feeling called patriotism. Though 

 the belief that it is glorious to die for one's country can not be 

 regarded as essential, since mercenaries fight without it, yet it is ob- 

 vious that such a belief must conduce greatly to success in war ; and 

 that entire absence of it must be so unfavorable to offensive and de- 

 voL. XIX. 49 



