RATIONAL LIFE 287 



being makes such drafts on past and future, even run 

 ning forward in fancy, to condemn what will never be 

 done, in order that achievement may excel that which 

 has been fancied ? We trace a moral element in all 

 thought, amongst high and low, civilised and un 

 civilised, noble and criminal. In the midst of all the 

 rivalries, jealousies, and antipathies of social life, 

 presenting an evil side to view, there are constantly 

 appearing references to right and duty. Thoughts and 

 words, and pleadings for right, are strangely com 

 mingled with manifold forms of wrong-doing. What is 

 the revengeful feeling, bursting out in flame of lurid 

 passion, but a man s testimony against the wrong 

 which has been done to him ? How do we account 

 for such force of passion ? It is not animal passion, 

 even though there be much of animal feeling associated 

 with it. There is here only a superficial resemblance 

 to animal conflicts. There is thought, behind this 

 rush of feeling ; on the tongue, there is complaint 

 against a fellow-man, and just complaint ; or, if you 

 have doubt of this, at least reference to justice, as 

 sovereign laiv to which every member of the race 

 is appealing from day to day. To this great rule of 

 human life, the little child appeals against strength 

 of muscle which can lift him in the air, and set him 

 down anywhere and anyhow. To this appeals the 

 native of the dark continent against the white face, 

 who is suspicious, hasty in judging, unfair in punish 

 ing, having his finger too quickly on the trigger, 

 under shades of night, testimony this from the 

 uncivilised against the bad side of civilisation. To 

 this appeals the criminal, in the heart of our surg 

 ing crowds, placed under arrest, if he should be 



