282 SOCIAL PROGRESS 



to, so to speak, a national personality. These pre- 

 tensions are based upon notions of unity that are 

 derived from past history, and their advancement 

 may be attributed to the increasing attention that 

 is paid to historical studies. To corroborate them 

 by evidence of singularity, attempts may be made 

 to resuscitate languages that are actually dead. 



So far for the ties between man and man which 

 rest upon the influence of the social instinct. But 

 these are not the only links in human society. 

 By the selfish, or individualistic, impulses, bonds 

 have been compacted which have drawn men 

 together as by hoops of iron. Many of them have 

 been forged in the smithy of war. Slavery is 

 technically dead ; but up to quite modern times it 

 was a vital element in the constitution of society, 

 and, from a practical point of view, it is still a 

 living institution in some Spanish and Portuguese 

 countries. It is not peculiar to mankind : some 

 species of ants have slaves, which appear to become 

 greatly attached to their masters and will fight 

 energetically on their behalf. Slaves might be 

 acquired by raiding : in this case their condition 

 generally became that of domestic servitude. 

 Or, when a country was conquered, the indigenous 

 population might be degraded to a position of 

 helotage, in which they might labour on their 

 fields, but for the conqueror's benefit, and were 

 carefully excluded from political privileges. As 

 time advanced, and their condition improved, 

 they have claimed freedom, and even political 

 equality, and they have generally made good their 

 claim except in cases where the ruling class has 

 rigidly maintained its vigour and exclusiveness. 

 The conflict between the patricians and plebeians 

 of Rome is a familiar illustration of this social 

 revolution ; and we have an instance nearer home 

 in the history of Ireland. 



Since commerce has become a temptation 



