Political Evolution. 75 



tinct from " pleasurable " and " painful," may for all that 

 differ widely as to what are and what are not the dic- 

 tates of conscience in matters of even little complication. 

 Nevertheless, however great may be such divergence, 

 there is one dictum which they will generally recognise as 

 indisputable ; viz., that no citizen has the right to deny to 

 another a liberty which he, as a citizen, claims for himself. 



This is the converse of that principle which we have 

 seen may be based upon a utilitarian foundation, and it 

 is essentially the same as the fundamental principle of 

 social ethics enunciated by Mr. Herbert Spencer in his 

 " Social Statics " the right of each man to do all save 

 that which limits the similar rights of others. 



If Mr. Herbert Spencer had no other merit, deep grati- 

 tude and great honour would be due to him for having 

 with such vigour and efficiency vindicated this fund- 

 amental principle of natural sociology. 



The utilitarian maxim, when impregnated with the 

 moral aphorism, becomes a sure ground whereon the 

 rights of minorities and of the individual may repose. 

 Without that aphorism, however, they have no security. 

 The absolute distinction between the " right " and the 

 " pleasurable " being denied, inconvenient minorities cease 

 to have any shelter from the absolute dominion of the 

 majority a frightful doctrine long latent and now become 

 apparent in modern " Liberalism." 



Such sentiments are, strange to say, the logical out- 



