76 THE LAWS OF SOCIAL INEQUALITY 



cover lost political influence. These powers are extending 

 themselves secretly in all directions, struggling fiercely for 

 pre-eminence. Man has broken his chains, he has escaped 

 from his dungeon, and every effort is now made to effect his 

 recapture. Pie will not let us think for him now. He con- 

 siders that he is quite capable of thinking for himself. He 

 considers that he is at perfect liberty to have an opinion or 

 belief of his own, uncontrolled by any other man or set of 

 men. Such is the language of the foe, as treacherous, 

 despotic, cruel, and unyielding as ever, whose power origi- 

 nated solely in the ignorance and darkness of former ages. 

 Man is no longer a poor degraded captive, devoid of great- 

 ness of soul, of reason, and of virtue. He is free now ! He 

 loves science, and nature, and truth ! Is he going to sur- 

 render the precious rights of religious and political liberty, 

 purchased by the blood of so many patriots and martyrs ? 

 Who are these men who wish to do our religious thinking 

 for us ? They (and their ancestors before them, about whom 

 they talk so much) are mortal men who sicken and die like 

 ourselves, and the probabilities are that they are, one and 

 all, just as liable to form erroneous opinions as any other 

 men. Religious infallibility on the one hand, and blind 

 submission of the understanding on the other there has 

 been already too much of it. Surely, the very remembrance 

 of the follies of their fathers, in this respect, has made the 

 present generation wiser. Before the light of science and 

 true religion* these delusions are passing away like a cloud. 



But the people are interested in putting down tyrannical 

 monopolies, not only in religion and government, but in 

 commerce. Commercial tyranny is as great a curse as the 

 former despotisms in religion and politics which have been 

 subjugated. 



Two hundred years ago, war with its interests absorbed 

 the attention of mankind ; but now society has completely 

 changed it character, and become commercial and industrial 

 in its spirit. Strife is therefore transported to this new field ; 

 and, as man is still the same fighting animal he ever was, 



* ll Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, 

 do ye even so to them for this is the law and the prophets." Matt. 7:12. 



