THE STRUGGLE FOR EXISTENCE 105 



ganization, met by two diametrically opposed views. On 

 the one hand, the methods pursued in foreign countries 

 are held up as our example. The State is exhorted to 

 take the matter in hand, and establish a great system of 

 technical education. On the other hand, many econo- 

 mists of the individualist school exhaust the resources of 

 language in condemning and repudiating, not merely the 

 interference of the general government in such matters, 

 but the application of a farthing of the funds raised by 

 local taxation to these purposes. I entertain a strong 

 conviction that, in this country, at any rate, the State 

 had much better leave purely technical and trade in- 

 struction alone. But, although my personal leanings are 

 decidedly towards the individualists, I have arrived at 

 that conclusion on merely practical grounds. In fact, 

 my individualism is rather of a sentimental sort, and I 

 sometimes think I should be stronger in the faith if it 

 were less vehemently advocated. 27 I am unable to see 

 that civil society is anything but a corporation estab- 

 lished for a moral object only namely, the good of 

 its members and therefore that it may take such 

 measures as seem fitting for the attainment of that which 

 the general voice decides to be the general good. That 

 the suffrage of the majority is by no means a scientific 

 test of social good and evil is unfortunately too true; 

 but, in practice, it is the only test we can apply, and 

 the refusal to abide by it means anarchy. The purest 

 despotism that ever existed is as much based upon that 

 will of the majority (which is usually submission to 

 the will of a small minority) as the freest republic. Law 



27 In what follows I am only repeating and emphasizing 

 opinions which I expressed seventeen years ago, in an Address 

 to the members of the Midland Institute (republished in Critiques 

 and Addresses in 1873, and in Vol. I, of these Essays). I have 

 seen no reason to modify them, notwithstanding high authority 

 on the other side. [T. H. H.] 



