418 CONVENTIONAL FALLACIES. 



be, forms no part ; in which the germinating being is not taught 

 that he is a relative creature, and can derive his own happiness only 

 by promoting the happiness of others ; but he is instructed to be a 

 ravenous creature, and to make his own happiness at the expense of 

 others. 



It is this sort of training that makes the great political and mili- 

 tary gamblers, whose stakes are the liberties and the lives of thou- 

 sands. But it is, perhaps, even yet more fatal in its effects on the 

 character of the lesser adventurers, who, in the social and domestic 

 area, have a grasp upon the fate of dependents and relatives. 



It is thought that the grand work of improvement would not ad- 

 vance without the impetus of individual selfishness and ambition. I 

 think, on the contrary, that the ratio of departure from this pernicious 

 principle will be the ratio on which all real improvement will gra- 

 duate. 



The generous man is, under the worst circumstances, acquainted 

 with a happiness impossible to his opposite, under the best circum- 

 stances. In the latter case there is a consciousness of debasement 

 that casts its alloy into his joys ; and however current they may pass 

 with the crowd, he, in the secret chambers of his heart, knows they 

 are but base metal : even while he cannot refrain from hugging him- 

 self over the selfish advantage he has taken or gained, he feels the 

 soil of sordid feeling sticking to him, and he cannot express his mean 

 satisfaction, save in a silent grin : he wants the moral panoply in 

 which the high-minded man walks erect among his kind, and speaks 

 his feelings with an honest frankness that does not shun to show, or 

 fear to share them. In looking on " that picture and on this," are 

 there any that do not perceive the hideousness of the one, and the 

 beauty of the other ? are there any that do not feel the infelicity of 

 the one, and the felicity of the other ? 



It is only to turn from the atom to the aggregate, and we perceive 

 society under both aspects yet, so perversely are people bent on 

 prejudging that which they have not experienced, that, among the 

 many who can think justly regarding the individual portraits, scarcely 

 one can do so of the collective ones. The most popular objection 

 against the happiest of the latter, is, that society would be visited by 

 that ennui and insipidity which was the bane of enjoyment in the 

 " Happy Valley." It is thought that men would cease to walk to- 

 and-fro on the earth, if they must cease to jostle and knock each 

 other down. There need be no apprehension that moral harmony 

 would produce this effect. The excitements of hope and expecta- 

 tion, which are deemed, perhaps justly, as essential to the develope- 

 ment of human powers and happiness, will always be abundantly 

 furnished. Does not nature and art stand in opposition to man, and 

 dare him to achievement ? Will there not always be the seas of' new 

 worlds to traverse the secrets of new sciences to explore ? These 

 will ever present dangers and difficulties, which, were he wise, he 

 would not aggravate by anti-social habits ; but rather seek to miti- 

 gate, by adopting the principle of union, which, partially as it has 

 hitherto been exercised, has formed the indispensable preliminary to 

 every great or good work yet accomplished. 



