Three Ideals. 93 



That such acts should be applauded by many and 

 tolerated by more in Germany is not surprising, for two 

 reasons : first, because of the grinding tyranny under 

 which that country has so long lain, it is not wonderful 

 that freedom is not really prized when it is not experi- 

 mentally known. It is not surprising, secondly, because 

 of the prodigious extent to which Hegelianism, or some 

 cognate form of pantheism, has filtered down through so- 

 ciety in all directions. Hence, a willing idolatry of " the 

 State " as of some all potent fetish. It seems hardly 

 to occur to any one, then, to ask the single question, 

 "What is the State?" and to recognise the truth that 

 this much venerated " State " is but a name for the 

 governing majority of the citizens. When this simple 

 fact becomes generally known, the sacred right of any 

 score of men to regulate the actions, words, and thoughts 

 of any dozen, will in all probability cease to be acquiesced 

 in with so much reverential and unquestioning awe, and 

 citizens will be less ready to prostrate themselves before 

 the car of such a Juggernath as the military despotism 

 which calls itself " the State " in Prussia. 



Fortunately, however, in such action as is now going on 

 in Prussia and Switzerland, an effect is being produced 

 exactly contrary to that which the actors desire. 



That such a contrary effect should be produced is quite 

 in accordance with Mr. Herbert Spencer's whole teaching. 

 He tells us: "Feelings called into play . . . will 



