POLITICS AND RACIAL CHARACTER 333 



circumstances call for their exercise, their develop- 

 ment still awaits the words and examples of 

 forceful leaders. If reformers can be suppressed, 

 the impulses to which they appeal will remain 

 undeveloped. If they are permitted liberty of 

 action, they may conjure dormant impulses into 

 habits of mind, or ideals, which will profoundly 

 affect the outlook and behaviour of their followers. 

 Thus Rousseau's doctrine of the equality of man- 

 kind found responsive echoes in the individualistic 

 impulses, and, reinforced by convictions of in- 

 justice and suffering, it produced a new ideal 

 which overpowered traditional notions of rever- 

 ence and loyalty. In the East, where these 

 notions are radically stronger, his creed would 

 have been scouted as abhorrent to common sense. 

 In France its effect was shortlived, and the people 

 soon realized that they were unable to obey 

 a government which they could not admire. 

 Amongst Anglo-Saxons convictions of equality 

 have taken deeper root, although cultivated with 

 less logical fervour. We may conclude that the 

 evolution of political life is conditioned, with 

 much strictness, by racial character. 



We must not, however, ignore the power of the 

 imitative impulse. This may lead nations to copy 

 the institutions of other nations whom they 

 admire ; but, ii we look below the surface of 

 their politics, we shall find that, unless their 

 imitation is supported by other impulses, their 

 government abounds with inconsistencies, and is of 

 of such imperfect stability as to be shaken by trifles. 



It is to be added that the exchanging of one 

 impulse for another as the basis of government 

 the substitution of one ideal for another must 

 be a gradual process, attended with much mental 

 uncertainty, unrest, 1 and it may be, with such a 



1 Such as is now disturbing India, where the impulse of 

 veneration has begun to fail as a motive for submission to British 

 authority. 



