EVOLUTION OF SOCIAL STRUCTURES 847 



establishment of a system of caste, the conquering race assuming 

 the role of a superior or noble caste, and the conquered race being 

 relegated to the position of an inferior or ignoble caste. The greater 

 part of the conquered race is enslaved, and the institution of slavery 

 begins here. The slaves are compelled to work, and labor in the 

 economic sense begins here. The enslavement of the producers 

 and the compelling them to work was the only way in which man- 

 kind could have been taught to labor, and therefore the whole 

 industrial system of society begins here. 



The conquerors parcel out the lands to the leading military 

 chieftains, and the institution of private ownership of land has 

 its origin at this stage. Success in war is attributed to the favor 

 of the gods, and those who pretend to be in communication with 

 the gods are the most favored of men. They are installed in high 

 places and made the recipients of large emoluments. From the 

 condition of sorcerers, soothsayers, and medicine-men they are 

 raised to that of a powerful priesthood. Henceforth they consti- 

 tute a leisure class, and this is the origin of that most important 

 human institution. Mutual race-hatred results in perpetual upris- 

 ings, requiring constant suppression by the military power. This 

 is costly, dangerous, and precarious, and wisdom soon dictates a 

 form of systematic treatment for offenders. Personal regulation 

 gradually gives way to general rules, and these ultimately take the 

 form of laws. Government by law gradually succeeds government 

 by arbitrary military commands. The effect of this is nothing less 

 than the origin of the state. The state is the most important of 

 all human institutions. There is no institution about which so 

 much has been written, and even in our day volumes are yearly 

 appearing vainly endeavoring to explain the origin and nature 

 of the state. They all completely miss the mark, and flounder in 

 a sea of vague and worthless speculation. The state is a spontane- 

 ous genetic product, resulting, like all other social structures, from 

 the interaction of antagonistic forces, checking and restraining 

 one another and evolving a great social structure destined to be- 

 come the condition to all social progress. Under the state there 

 are recognized both rights and duties. So long as the law is not 

 violated there is liberty of action, and the foundations of human 

 freedom are laid. 



Another great institution takes its rise at this stage, viz., that 

 of property. With the establishment of the state, with its recog- 

 nition of rights under the law, it becomes possible, as never before, 

 to enjoy undisturbed any object that has been rightfully acquired. 

 Such an object then becomes property, and belongs to its owner 

 even if not in his immediate possession. He need no longer fear 

 that, unless it is constantly watched and forcibly defended, it 



