CHAPTER XVI 



CONSCIENCE 



The modern civilized community which has achieved 

 conditions approximating those lately reviewed, that is to 

 say a condition tending toward or culminating in altruistic 

 democracy, consists of individuals allied in groups, each 

 representing a strain or lineage normally continually grow- 

 ing in knowledge and ability. These groups are inter-related 

 by blood, and bound by common intellectual training, and 

 by political association, in varying degrees, so that knowl- 

 edge is diffused sufficiently to sustain a general community 

 of understanding, and to these individuals, duly qualified 

 by correctness of motive, has been traced the authority 

 which defines right, and sustains the organization in that 

 right. 



There is to be found in every and all of these reforming 

 communities a marked appreciation of independence of 

 thought. Their appreciation of liberty has sometimes arisen 

 in circumstances from which independent protest could be 

 the only way of release, and their emancipation from con- 

 trol has found new uses for that aptitude for independence, 

 and a continued respect for personal convictions. 



This respect goes so far that it allows and recognizes a 

 right of freedom from subjection to any but the most neces- 



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