The Altruistic Type of Government 233 



the nation; and liable to instant check when in its own pur- 

 poses it trespasses upon the rights of others. Beyond this 

 check, which is itself constitutionally defined in the laws of 

 justice, the government has no right moral function. 



Such is the typical character, briefly expressed, of the kind 

 of government which humanity creates more or less perfectly 

 when the altruistic impulse controls. This impulse, and this 

 type are mingled of course, in practice, with many other 

 impulses, and many other fragmentary types ; so that gener- 

 ally speaking every government, and every minor organiza- 

 tion, shows actual conduct partaking of many or all types in 

 different actions. 



The various ideals of activity of a progressive nature 

 complicate action as much as do the various established 

 prejudices. Some communities, renouncing the despotic 

 control of patriarchal form, seek to put in its place equally 

 despotic control by the social aggregate, believing socialism 

 the best organization for productive activity. Others, shak- 

 ing off paternal government, give less heed to production, and 

 ultimate results, and look only to a present enjoyment in 

 common of the existing goods which are now unequally 

 distributed, and which the community is by them supposed 

 to properly own for equal distribution. And others again 

 having lively perception of the value of knowledge as ex- 

 pressed in products, see benevolence in that form of coopera- 

 tion which faithful ignorance and controlling wisdom can 

 achieve; and so they would distribute justly not the wisdom, 

 but the produce, by means of the old paternalism more 

 benevolently administered. 



One of the advantages of organized cooperative activity 



