76 DISCOURSES OF FATHER HYACINTHE. 



and Avlnit is tlie nature of tlie bond that constitutes 

 it ? Is it a political bond ? Is it simply a moral 

 bond ? Is it a religious bond ? These are the three 

 aspects under which this important subject is to bo 

 considered. 



I can hardly keep myself from a certain emotion as 

 I approach it. It brings back to me thoêe enthusiasms 

 of my early youth which I shared in common with my 

 fellows. The commonwealth of mankind appeared to 

 me then in the shadows of immature and undefined 

 speculation ; I had a poor enough conception of what 

 it is in itself, and what it may grow to be under the ac- 

 tion of Christianity ; and yet I felt my heart of hearts 

 answering to that conception with inexpressible yearn- 

 ings. At this day, thank God, I see it in that perfect 

 light which is poured u^wn earthly as well as upon 

 heavenly things by the Catholic synthesis. I believe 

 I love it better ; I want to serve it better ; and in this 

 light which does not mislead, I will attempt, Gentle- 

 men, to consider it with you. 



Part First. — The PoJilical Bond. 



And, first, is there any political bond adapted to form 

 among all the States of the globe a cosmopolitan com- 

 monwealth ? If no such bond exists at present, may 

 it perad venture exist in the future ? 



Why not ? What is the State itself if not a political 

 bond between States less than itself? 



Civil society is not so simple as it would seem to be 

 at first sight. It is composed of three concentric spheres 

 — three planes, one above another ; at the base, the 

 township; above that the province; at the top, the 

 State. 



