The Mechanism of Retribution 365 



individual relations this is called a crime. When 

 a government limits the activity of a mimber of 

 people, it is a case of social pathology. When the 

 biological units of which society is composed are 

 mutilated or diseased, society itself is diseased. 



Despotism is a violation of the rights of the 

 governed by the governing. In a despotism citi- 

 zens who seek the best interests of the State are 

 considered criminal and are punished for it. Hence 

 they lose interest in the State; and patriotism 

 disappears. A large part of the world has already 

 learned that despotism is unprofitable. The cases 

 of despotism which still remain are striking illus- 

 trations of its failure. Although the Sultan of 

 Turkey levied taxes of thirty per cent, on his 

 twenty-four million subjects, he received less 

 revenue than the Queen of Holland with only six 

 million subjects and a lower tax rate. Every 

 diminution of the vital intensity of the governed 

 is a diminution of the vital intensity of the govern- 

 ing. Turkey is reactionary and hence unproduc- 

 tive. Despotism mutilates not only the governed, 

 but the governing as well. 



Despotism is the use of brute force to compel 

 citizens to do that which is contrary to their own 

 interests, for the supposed profit of their masters. 

 War is the process by which international despot- 

 ism is established; and internal despotism is es- 

 sentially a latent and perpetual war between the 

 governed and the governing. War like despotism 

 is a violation of the rights of others, a mutilation. 



