184 Mr. Buckle's Fallacies. [ix. 



blood," there must have been absolute despotism. 

 Without this, society would have become a parcel of 

 units. Imagine a republic of Tatars, a constitu- 

 tional democracy of Vandals, and develop the con- 

 sequences ! 



Thus in the primitive stage of civilisation the 

 protective spirit played the same part as universal 

 credulity in preserving society from disintegration. 

 Thus it becomes more evident than before that 

 scepticism would have been harmful at that early 

 period. It would have weakened the protective 

 spirit and destroyed allegiance, besides causing 

 religious dissension. Nothing of the kind was then 

 admissible. The selfish and brutal feelings of men 

 had to be restrained, and their social and humane 

 feelings called forth, before the sceptical spirit could 

 safely commence its inroads upon the spirit of 

 universal belief and universal submission. The pro- 

 tective spirit was therefore in early times the great 

 safeguard of civilisation and the all-essential con- 

 dition of progress ; and this very important restriction 

 must be placed upon Mr. Buckle's law. 



On looking at the subject in its broadest and most 

 general aspect, we shall arrive at the conclusion that 

 all systems of belief and all great institutions are 

 beneficial when they first spring up. Each has its 



