V IN HUMAN SOCIETY 227 



is anything but a corporation established for a 

 moral object namely, the good of its members 

 and therefore that it may take such measures as 

 seem fitting for the attainment of that which the 

 general voice decides to be the general good. 

 That the suffrage of the majority is by no means 

 a scientific test of social good and evil is un 

 fortunately too true ; but, in practice, it is the 

 only test we can apply, and the refusal to abide 

 by it means anarchy. The purest despotism that 

 ever existed is as much based upon that will of 

 the majority (which is usually submission to the 

 will of a small minority) as the freest republic. 

 Law is the expression of the opinion of the 

 majority ; and it is law, and not mere opinion, 

 because the many are strong enough to enforce 

 it. 



I am as strongly convinced as the most pro 

 nounced individualist can be, that it is desirable 

 that every man should be free to act in every way 

 which does not limit the corresponding freedom 

 of his fellow-man. But I fail to connect that 

 great induction of political science with the 

 practical corollary which is frequently drawn from 

 it : that the State that is, the people in their 

 corporate capacity has no business to meddle 

 with anything but the administration of justice 

 and external defence. It appears to me that the 



seen no reason to modify them, notwithstanding 'high authority 

 on the other side. 



