268 ADMINISTRATIVE NIHILISM vi 



because their belief is small ; they know that the 

 State had better leave things alone unless it has a 

 clear knowledge about them; and, with reason, 

 they suspect that the knowledge of the governing 

 power may stand 110 higher than the very low r 

 watermark of their own. 



In the second place, men have become largely 

 ^absorbed in the mere_accumulation of wealth ; and 

 as this is a matter in which the plainest and 

 strongest form of self-interest is intensely con- 

 cerned, science (in the shape of Political Economy) 

 lias readily demonstrated that self-interest may 

 be safely left to find the best way of attaining its 

 ends. Rapidity__and certainty, of intercourse. X 

 between different countries, the enormous deve- 

 lopment of the powers of machinery, and general 

 peace (however interrupted by brief periods of 

 warfare), have changed the face of commerce as 

 completely as modern artillery has changed that of 

 war. The merchant found himself as much 

 burdened by ancient proteiive_ measures as the 

 sol (Her byhis armour and negative /l 

 has been of as much use to the one as tin; 

 ping off of breast-plates, greaves, and 'buff-coat to 

 the other. But because 'the soldier is bet t IT 

 without his armour it does liot exactly- follow that 

 it is desirable that our defenders should strip them- 

 selves stark naked ; and it is not more apparent why 

 laissez-faire great and beneficial as it may be in 

 alTtlTat relates to the accumulation of wealth * 



