Human Physiology. 4.51 



now done ^ by private companies of speculators or investors, 

 who look to their own profit rather than the advantage of the 

 public. The government has added the telegraph to the Post- 

 Office department, and assumed the entire function of the rapid 

 distribution of intelligence. The government of the nation 

 should be the centre of its whole life, and control the circula- 

 tion of not only its nerves, but its arteries and veins. It should 

 have the railways as well as the telegraphs; both should be 

 worked with the greatest possible economy and efficiency, not 

 for the profit of individuals, not to support idle people in luxury, 

 but for the general good ; and any margin of profit, if allowed 

 at all, should go to diminish other taxation. And an impor- 

 tant part of the foreign mail and transport service ought to be 

 carried on by fleet naval transports the property of the whole 

 people, administered for their use. There is no principle to 

 prevent the government from carrying a ton of merchandise, as 

 well as a pound; or a passenger, as well as a packet. Ten 

 mile stamps, issued by the government, might carry each 

 passenger and his luggage on every railway, at the cheapest 

 possible rate, and with comforts of travel now unthought of. 



And all insurance of property of all kinds, and life insurance, 

 and insurance against accidents, might be done by the govern- 

 ment with great economy and advantage. The police would 

 guard against frauds, and prevent and extinguish conflagrations. 

 Every vessel registered, and every cargo entered, should be by 

 the same act insured. Such oversight and guardianship of the 

 government would make it every man's interest to be loyal ; 

 and the government would be what it should be ever the 

 head and heart of the nation. 



And I would go much further than this. Whatever is for 

 the general welfare of the whole country, is the proper function 

 of the general government ; whatever is for the common wel- 

 fare of the people of any town or district, is the function of the 

 municipal, or local government. The making, repairing, and 



