COERCION. I/ 



nature of the animal with which he had to deal. His 

 system was but a convenient application of our principle, 

 viz., Judicious coercion, so employed that the brute 

 obeys the man without knowing why. When forced to 

 the earth, and compelled to remain there, apparently 

 by the mere volition of a creature so much smaller 

 and feebler than itself, it seemed to acknowledge 

 some mysterious and over-mastering power such as 

 the disciples of Mesmer profess to exercise on their 

 believers, and this, in truth, is the whole secret of man's 

 dominion over the beasts of the field. It is founded, 

 to speak practically, on reason in both, the larger share 

 being apportioned to the weaker frame. If by terror 

 or resentment, the result of injudicious severity, that 

 reason becomes obscured in the stronger animal, we 

 have a maniac to deal with, possessing the strength of 

 ten human beings, over whom we have lost our only 

 shadow of control ! Where is our supremacy then ? 

 It existed but in the imagination of the beast, for which, 

 so long as it never tried to break the bond, a silken 

 thread was as strong as an iron chain. 



Perhaps this is the theory of all government, but 

 with the conduct and coercion of mankind we have 

 at present nothing to do. 



There is a peculiarity in horses that none who spend 



C 



7 



