258 ADMINISTRATIVE NIHILISM vr 



sorts and conditions of men, will, I think, agree 

 with me that they are as common in the lower 

 \/ ranks of life as in the higher. 



Leaving the ^a-gtp n.rgnmpnt. aside then^s in- 

 1 consistent with the practice of those who employ 

 it. as devoid-a_any.^ustincation in theory, -tind as 

 utterly mischievous if its logical consequences 

 were carried out/let us turn to the other class of 

 objectors. To these opponents, the Education 

 | Act is only one of a number of pieces of legisla- 

 tion to which they object on principle ; and they 

 include under like condemnation the Vaccination 

 Act, the Contagious Diseases Act, and all other 

 sanitary Acts; all attempts on the part of the 

 State to prevent adulteration, or to regulate 

 injurious trades; all legislative interference with 

 anything that bears directly or indirectly on 

 commerce, such as shipping, harbours, railways, 

 roads, cab-fares, and the carriage of letters ; and 

 all attempts to promote the spread of knowledge 

 by the establishment of teaching bodies, examin- 

 ing bodies, libraries, or museums, or by the sending 

 out of scientific expeditions; all endeavours to 

 advance art by the establishment of schools of 

 design, or picture galleries ; or by spending money 

 upon an architectural public building when a 

 brick box would answer the purpose. According 

 to their views^not a shilling of public money must 

 be bestowed upon a public park or pleasure- 

 ground; not sixpence upon the relief ot 'starvation, 



