THE STUDY OF SOCIOLOGY. 183 



not in itself a benefit. These are but means to an end ; and the end 

 is the maintenance of those conditions under which each citizen may 

 carry on his life without further hindrances from other citizens than 

 are involved by their equal claims the securing to each citizen all 

 such beneficial results of his activities as his activities naturally bring. 

 The worth of the means is measured by the degree in which this end 

 is achieved ; and a citizen nominally having complete means, and but 

 partially securing the end, is less free than another who uses incom- 

 plete means to more purpose. 



But why go abroad for proofs of the truth that political forms are 

 of worth only in proportion as they are vitalized by national charac- 

 ter ? "We have proofs at home. I do not mean those furnished by 

 past constitutional history I do not merely refer to those many facts 

 showing us that the nominal power of our representative body became 

 an actual power only by degrees ; and that the theoretically indepen- 

 dent House of Commons took centuries to escape from regal and aris- 

 tocratic sway, and establish a practical independence. I refer to the 

 present time, and to actions of our representative body in the pleni- 

 tude of its power. This assembly of deputies chosen by constituencies 

 now so greatly extended, and therefore so well fitted, as it would 

 seem, for guarding the individual, of whatever grade, against trespasses 

 upon his individuality, nevertheless authorizes new trespasses upon 

 his individuality. A popular government, just made more popular, 

 has established, without the slightest hindrance, a law and an official 

 organization that treat with contempt the essential principles of con- 

 stitutional rule. Here is a brief account of the process : 



On the 20th June, 1864, just before two o'clock in the morning, there 

 was silently read a first time an act giving, in some localities, certain 

 new powers to the police. On the 27th of that month, it was read a 

 second time, also without comment at what hour Hansard does not 

 show. Just before two o'clock in the morning, on June 30th, there 

 was appointed, without remark, a select committee to consider this 

 proposed act. On the 15th July the report of this committee was re- 

 ceived. On the 19th the bill was recommitted, and the report on it 

 received all in silence. On the 20th July it was considered still in 

 silence as amended. And, on the 21st July, it was read a third time 

 and passed equally in silence. Taken next day to the House of 

 Lords, it there, in silence equally profound, passed through all its 

 stages in four days (? three). This act not proving strong enough to 

 meet the views of naval and military officers (who, according to the 

 testimony of one of the select committee, were the prompters of it), 

 was in 1866 "amended." At one o'clock in the morning, on March 

 16th of that year, the act amending it was read a first time ; and it 

 was read a second time on the 22d, when the Secretary of the Admiralty, 

 describing it as an act to secure the better health of soldiers and sail- 

 ors, said: "It was intended to renew an act passed in 1864, with ad- 



