THE ACCUSATION 197 



is not of this mind. He knows that the world is ruled by 

 its thinkers, and would probably acknowledge that pro- 

 fessors of philosophy think just a little. The influence 

 of the philosophers upon morals, politics and religion can 

 be compared only to that of scientific men upon the material 

 conditions of life. The changes introduced by Adam 

 Smith or Immanuel Kant have decidedly not been less 

 revolutionary or of less practical significance to mankind 

 than those brought about by Newton, or James Watt. 

 Indeed, the evidence of modern history to the power of 

 the speculative thinker in politics is so strong as not to need 

 to be cited. Sir Henry Maine once said that he did not 

 know a single law reform since Bentham's day which cannot 

 be traced to his influence. Not even yet is that of his 

 pupil, John Stuart Mill, entirely spent. And, difficult as 

 it is to measure the forces which play within our own social 

 and political life, it is hardly to be denied that the power 

 exercised by Bentham and the Utilitarian school has, for 

 better or for worse, passed into the hands of the Idealists. 

 Their Idealism, moreover, is "German Idealism" 

 which is another reason for public alarm. "The Rhine 

 has flowed into the Thames ! " is the warning note rung 

 out by Mr. Hobhouse. Carlyle introduced a version of it, 

 bringing it as far as Chelsea. Then Jowett, and Thomas 

 Hill Green, and William Wallace, and Lewis Nettleship, 

 and Arnold Toynbee, and David Ritchie to mention only 

 those teachers whose voices are now silent guided the 

 waters, as Mr. Hobhouse says, ' ' into those upper reaches 

 of the Thames known locally as the Isis." John and 

 Edward Caird brought them up the Clyde, Hutcheson 

 Stirling up the Firth of Forth. They have passed up the 

 Mersey, where Professor Maccunn corrupts the world with 



