THE TRANSITION OF INSTITUTIONS. 139 



be division of labor here as elsewhere : some who have the function of 

 attacking, and who, that they may attack effectually, must feel strong- 

 ly the viciousness of that which they attack ; some who have the func- 

 tion of defending, and who, that they may be good defenders, must 

 over-value the things they defend. But while this one-sidedness has 

 to be tolerated, as in great measure unavoidable, it is in some respects 

 to be regretted. Though, with grievances less serious and animosities 

 less intense than those which existed here in the past, and which exist 

 still abroad, there go mitigated tendencies to a rash destructiveness on 

 the one side, and an unreasoning bigotry on the other, yet even in 

 our country and age there are dangers from the want of a due both- 

 sidedness. In the speeches and writings of those who advocate vari- 

 ous political and social changes, there is so continuous a presentation 

 of injustices, and abuses, and mischiefs, and corruptions, as to leave 

 the impression that, for securing a wholesome state of things, there 

 needs nothing but to set aside present arrangements. The implica- 

 tion seems ever to be that all who occupy places of power, and form 

 the regulative organization, are alone to blame for whatever is not as 

 it should be, and that the classes regulated are blameless. " See the 

 injuries which these institutions inflict on you," says the energetic re- 

 former. " Consider how selfish must be the men who maintain them 

 to their own advantage and your detriment," he adds ; and then he 

 leaves to be drawn the manifest inference that, were these selfish men 

 got rid of, all would be well. Neither he nor his audience recognizes 

 the facts that regulative arrangements are essential ; that the arrange- 

 ments in question, along with their many vices, have some virtues ; 

 that such vices as they have do not result from an egoism peculiar to 

 those who uphold and work them, but result from a general egoism — 

 an egoism no less decided in those who complain than in those com- 

 plained of. Inequitable government can be upheld only by the aid 

 of a people correspondingly inequitable, in its sentiments and acts. 

 Injustice cannot reign, if the community does not furnish a due supply 

 of unjust agents. No tyrant can tyrannize over a people save on con- 

 dition that the people is bad enough to supply him with soldiers who 

 will fight for his tyranny and keep their brethren in slavery. Class- 

 supremacy cannot be maintained by the corrupt buying of votes, un- 

 less there are multitudes of voters venal enough to sell their votes. It 

 is thus everywhere and in all degrees — misconduct among those in 

 power is the correlative of misconduct among those over whom they 

 exercise power. 



And, while, in the men who urge on changes, there is an uncon- 

 sciousness that the evils they denounce are rooted in the nature com- 

 mon to themselves and other men, there is also an unconsciousness 

 that amid the things they would throw away there is much worth 

 preserving. This holds of beliefs more especially. Along with the 

 destructive tendency there goes but little constructive tendency. The 



