126 Contemporary Evolution. 



" It has always been found that causes which have an emotional 

 basis attract a far greater number of supporters and exercise a 

 much firmer hold over them than causes which have only a basis 

 of reason. So long as slavery in the United States was combated 

 on economical or political grounds, its defenders had no reason to 

 fear the attack. If they were unable to answer the arguments 

 brought against them, they could comfort themselves by thinking 

 that it did not matter whether they were answered or not. But 

 when the abolitionist party lifted the question into the sphere of 

 emotion, and denounced slavery and the constitution which per- 

 mitted slavery on the plea of owing obedience to a higher law than 

 any of man's making, the whole character of the controversy was 

 altered, and slavery was doomed just when its strength seemed 

 greatest. There is no organisation which can command emotion 

 with so much certainty of evoking it as the Roman Catholic Church, 

 and of all emotions the religious emotion is the strongest when 

 thoroughly aroused. 



" We have already indicated one or two of the grounds which make 

 it probable that the present attitude of the Roman Catholic Church 

 towards democracy will hereafter be completely changed. Some 

 others still remain to be mentioned. In modern times ever since, 

 that is, the existing State system of Europe began to grow up the 

 Roman Catholic Church has been the most conservative of all 

 institutions. But to suppose that it must remain what it is when 

 the reasons for being what it is are at an end would be to underrate 

 the ability which ecclesiastics have at various times displayed, and 

 may very possibly display again. 



" Supposing the Roman Catholic clergy to be convinced that their 

 best if not their only chance of regaining their spiritual influence 

 lies in an appeal to the democracy, their organisation and position 

 would give them many advantages in making it. Their singular 

 detachment from those family ties which make men fearful of running 

 great risks has already been referred to. Their detachment from 

 local ties would enable them to pursue a uniform policy in different 

 countries and under different circumstances. In some cases they 

 would be connected by birth with the classes whose temper they 



