Justice the Goal of Human Progress 377 



the last century. Why? Because only within the 

 last century has there been security from Saracen 

 pirates, in other words, justice. Now barbarism 

 is the social condition which allows a minimum of 

 pleasure; civilization that which permits a maxi- 

 mum. And since every individual seeks to avoid 

 suffering and tries to find happiness, the impulse 

 towards a higher civilization is rooted deep in 

 human nature. Barbarism and injustice are 

 synonyms whether used internationally or within 

 a nation. One of the principal factors in the high 

 Sicilian criminality is the absence of prompt 

 expeditious justice. And, similarly, we call that 

 State civilized, whose citizens enjoy to the full 

 civil and political liberty; that is to say, where 

 justice reigns. 



Democracy and conquest are at opposite poles. 

 Conquest is a form of exploitation which cannot 

 coexist with true democracy. To die for king and 

 country has meant but too often to die to de- 

 spoil a neighbour, in other words, to perpetuate 

 international anarchy. 



We still live in an era of illusions. We condemn 

 petty brutalities, but when they exist on a vast 

 scale we call them inevitable and honoiu* them. 

 For centtiries men have dimly guessed what 

 justice meant, they have had vague intuitions 

 that it was the goal of himian progress. In large 

 measure it was the need of justice that inspired 

 the idea of God and gave man this belief in a 

 future life. As Renan says: 



