LAW IN POLITICS. 417 



planted in the human mind, and the endeavour 

 to suppress it has always been the violation of a 

 Natural Law. In like manner Mechanical Inven- 

 tion is a Law of Nature in the highest and strictest 

 sense. The power of it and the love of it are 

 among the elementary forces of human character. 

 Each fresh exertion of it is, and must be, accord- 

 ing to the constitution and course of Nature — lead- 

 ing to higher and higher fulfilments of the original 

 Purpose of Man's Creation, which was, that he 

 should not only inhabit the Earth, as the beasts 

 inhabit it, but that he should subdue it. 



So also combination is natural to Man. The 

 desire for it and the need of it, grow with the growth 

 of knowledge and with the increasing complications 

 of Society. It has now, for the most part, emerged 

 from the stage of rude ignorance which led to the 

 breaking of machinery. It is conducted, compara- 

 tively at least, with high intelligence, and aims 

 for the most part at legitimate objects of desire. 

 Yet in the rebellion which has been roused against 

 the doctrines of Necessity, founded on false concep- 

 tions of Invariable Law, there is a constant danger 



lest the Spirit of Association should attempt to act 



2 D 



