45Q THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



study of human nature, have tried to establish, as the fundamental 

 doctrine of their improved morality, the systematic domination of the 

 passions ! 



As a necessaiy and direct result of such disorder in the intellectual 

 region, we see corruption erected into a recognized and indispensable 

 means of carrying on government. So powerless have general ideas 

 become, into such discredit have they fallen, that they no longer avail 

 to prompt any course of action ; and governments find themselves, 

 therefore, without any other resource for securing such union of indi- 

 viduals as is necessary to the maintenance of a rude material order, 

 than an almost open appeal to purely personal interests. But, were 

 men animated by profound convictions, such a means of influence 

 would never have to be resorted to. Even in characters of the least 

 elevation, human nature seldom debases itself so far as to follow out a 

 line of conduct in direct opposition to any set of convictions. "VVe see 

 this proved in the case of men of science : in politics, where the reign 

 of law is not yet established, they frequently exhibit the most shame- 

 ful tergiversation ; while they stand firm against all temptation to 

 abandon their anti-theological opinions for which they believe they 

 have a scientific warrant. We thus see that the prevalent intellectual 

 confusion not only allows the development of political corruption, but 

 absolutely renders it necessary as a means of government, which of 

 course can not be carried on unless a certain number of individuals 

 can be brought to act in harmony. This fact, however, does not ex- 

 cuse the governments of our time for showing such a preference as 

 they do for this particular means of influence ; nor for using it, as 

 they do, almost exclusively in their own personal interests. Bad as 

 the instrument is, it might be used to better ends than is commonly 

 the case, if the " practical politicians," instead of casting scorn on all 

 attempts to establish a science of politics, were to lend such aid as 

 they could to its elaboration. They could lend some aid by a mere 

 change of attitude. 



The political corruption of our day is not confined, however, to the 

 direct offer by governments of material inducements for political sup- 

 port. We see a form of it in the awarding of distinctions and titles ; 

 and, taking a wider view, we see that all our institutions work together 

 to call into activity the selfish ambition of all the more energetic mem- 

 bers of the community. In this most important respect, the existing 

 condition of society itself may be said to be eminently corrupting. 

 At the same time that the prevalent intellectual anarchy has dissolved 

 any public prejudices that stood in the Avay of unlimited individual 

 self-assertion, the inevitable decomposition of the ancient social classi- 

 fication has likewise thrown down the barriers to private ambition, 

 which is now, in the name of progress, invited to take the very high- 

 est flights. Carried along by an irresistible current, governments have 

 had to try and meet the new demands of the time by an extravagant 



