IDEALS OF LIBERTY 285 



uncertainty. None the less is it true that progress 

 is impossible without liberty to change; and it is 

 a striking proof of the advancing intelligence 

 of mankind that in western countries people may 

 be left almost unchecked to listen to exhortations 

 whether good or evil. 



Freedom or choice be it only of a tyranny 

 is undoubtedly an ideal of growing influence. It 

 is the mainspring of modern democracy, and is 

 gradually revolutionizing society by disposing 

 mankind to dislike the routine of discipline. We 

 hear of strikes every day. Women are in revolt 

 against the dominance of men. Girls leave domes- 

 tic service for factory work : armies can hardly 

 be maintained by voluntary enlistment : work- 

 men repudiate the promises of their leaders. This 

 tendency is, naturally, deplored by those who 

 suffer from its consequences ; and we may un- 

 doubtedly discern in it threatenings of evil as 

 well as promises of good. It may even endanger 

 the existence of a State by disarming it in the 

 presence of enemies. But, if change is Life, we 

 must not hastily condemn the swaying of our 

 impulses. If civilized man is becoming less 

 amenable to discipline, he is at the same time 

 becoming more kindly in feeling, less inclined 

 to close his eyes to the interests of others. 



A philosopher searching for the key-note of our 

 present culture might indeed find it not in know- 

 ledge, nor in wealth, nor in luxury, but in the 

 astonishing development of man's kindly feelings. 

 The emotion of kindliness is, as we have seen, 

 connected with the impulse to embrace or fondle, 

 which is manifested very clearly in the social life 

 of southern nations. In northern peoples the 

 impulse is not focussed so strongly upon flesh and 



