4.52 Human Physiology. 



cleansing of streets and roads; the superintendence of all build 

 ings; the restraint and removal of all nuisances; the supply of 

 water, gas, and hot air in pipes for general warming purposes ; 

 and probably in time the supply and economy of fuel, seem to 

 me proper functions of local government. Certainly the supply 

 and distribution of the absolute necessaries of life should never 

 be subject to the greed of individuals or soulless corporations. 

 It should be in the power of every man to purchase, at the 

 lowest possible price, and of the best possible quality, every 

 article of absolute need shelter, clothing, food, water, light, 

 fuel, or heat. It is the right or duty of the government, acting 

 for the whole people, to see that no individual be left at the 

 mercy of speculators, adulterators, fraudulent tradesmen, and 

 all those who live and grow rich upon the necessities of their 

 fellow-men who are morally, and should be considered and 

 treated legally, as so many thieves and robbers the common 

 enemies of mankind. 



An orderly society, having its basis in the constitution of man, 

 must be the natural outgrowth of his faculties, needs, desires, 

 and aspirations. It must be what his nature requires, and not 

 merely his lower, distorted, uncultured, or perverted nature, but 

 his highest talents, his noblest sentiments, his immortal yearn- 

 ings for the true, the beautiful, and the supremely good. 



Our actual society is to a large extent based upon the lower 

 propensities of man upon a nature disordered and perverted, 

 or uncultured and incomplete. It rests upon selfishness ; 

 whereas man's social character is essentially unselfish, friendly, 

 philanthropic, and heroic. Our political economy teaches that 

 every one should seek his own interest and advancement at the 

 expense of his neighbours. Our religion, and the best in us 

 that responds to its requirements, teach us to love our neigh- 

 bour as ourselves, and to seek our own highest good in the 

 welfare and happiness of those around us. 



The selfishness on which our social state and its political 



