574 POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS. 



ing regimental control in conformity with inherited traditions, 

 will not impose on the producing classes a kindred control, is 

 to suppose in him sentiments and ideas entirely foreign to his 

 circumstances. 



554. The nature of the militant form of government will 

 be further elucidated on observing that it is both positively 

 regulative and negatively regulative. It does not simply 

 restrain ; it also enforces. Besides telling the individual 

 what he shall not do, it tells him what he shall do. 



That the government of an army is thus characterised 

 needs no showing. Indeed, commands of the positive kind 

 given to the soldier are more important than those of the 

 negative kind : fighting is done under the one, while order is 

 maintained under the other. But here it chiefly concerns us 

 to note that not only the control of military life but also the 

 control of civil life, is, under the militant type of govern 

 ment, thus characterized. There are two ways in which the 

 ruling power may deal with the private individual. It may 

 simply limit his activities to those which he can carry on 

 without aggression, direct or indirect, upon others ; in which 

 case its action is negatively regulative. Or, besides doing 

 this, it may prescribe the how, and the where, and the when, 

 of his activities may force him to do things which he would 

 not spontaneously do may direct in greater or less detail his 

 mode of living ; in which case its action is positively regula 

 tive. Under the militant type this positively regulative 

 action is widespread and peremptory. The civilian is in a 

 condition as much like that of the soldier as difference of 

 occupation permits. 



And this is another way of expressing the truth that the 

 fundamental principle of the militant type is compulsory co 

 operation. While this is obviously the principle on which 

 the members of the combatant body act, it no less certainly 

 must be the principle acted on throughout the non-combatant 

 body, if military efficiency is to be great ; since, otherwise, 



