78 TRANSACTIONS. 1906-7. 



Scores of such acts are now criminal, and there are consequently 

 very many more malefactors. 



Compare original with present society, and my point will be 

 quite clear to you. In earliest and most rudimentary conditions 

 there is no crime at all. There are murderings and thievings, no 

 doubt, but these are not crimes against society. They are merely 

 wrongs against persons — just as until lately were these embezzle- 

 ments to which I have referred. 



No crimes at the beginning of our history, and a constantly 

 increasing list down to the present day, until now almost every 

 year adds on some more — what does that mean?. It means this: 

 that we are constantly acquiring a better and clearer view of what 

 is involved in our duty to our neighbor; that our sensibilities are 

 more refined; our criticism of conduct more censorious; and our 

 appreciation of righteousness more emphatic and declaratory, 

 more intolerant if you will. 



And note that I did not say that the weight of crime had 

 increased, but its quantity merely. Eliminate from our apparent- 

 ly appalling list of convictions those for the more modern offences, 

 and you will reduce it to something quite insignificant. I do not 

 wish to be understood as asserting that there are more assassina- 

 tions now than in A.D. 1500; but that the criminal code, merely, 

 is longer. 



" What is the growth in civilization but increase of the know- 

 ledge that makes us conscious of sin" (a). 



Observe too that while I affirm that diplomacy is not, and 

 probably never will be, quite dissociated from deception; yet that 

 I am thoroughly convinced that opinion has undergone so remark- 

 able a change that while Machiavelli could say in his day that if a 

 prince can '' continue his supremacy, the means which he uses 

 shall be thought honorable, and be commended by everybody, " 

 that affirmation can no longer be made. Upon the contrary I 

 am satisfied that people are slowly learning to distinguish between 

 success and the means of its achievement; and to be able to 

 applaud the one while condemning the other. As Chancellor 

 Ruemelin says, ''We can hardly fail to notice in the management 

 of public affairs, an increasing tendency toward nobler ends." 

 (P. 75.) 



Political corruption in its present form of bribery of the 



(a) Fairbairn: "Phil, of the Christian Rehgion," p. 151. 



