362 POLITICAL INSTITUTIONS. 



racterized by diffused patriarchal despotism. Only among 

 modern peoples, whose ancestors passed through the discipline 

 given under this social form, and who have inherited its 

 effects, is civilization being dissociated from subjection to 

 individual will. 



The necessity there has been for absolutism is best seen on 

 observing that, during inter-tribal and inter-national conflicts, 

 those have conquered who, other things equal, were the 

 more obedient to their chiefs and kings. And since in 

 early stages, military subordination and social subordination 

 go together, it results that, for a long time, the conquering 

 societies continued to be the despotically-governed societies. 

 Such exceptions as histories appear to show us, really prove 

 the rule. In the conflict between Persia and Greece, the 

 Greeks, but for a mere accident, would have been ruined by 

 that division of councils which results from absence of sub 

 jection to a single head. And their habit of appointing a 

 dictator when in great danger from enemies, implies that the 

 Romans had discovered that efficiency in war requires un 

 divided control. 



Thus, leaving open the question whether, in the absence of 

 war, wandering primitive groups could ever have developed 

 into settled civilized communities, we conclude that, under 

 such conditions as there have been, those struggles for 

 existence among societies which have gone on consolidating 

 smaller into larger, until great nations have been produced, 

 necessitated the development of a social type characterized 

 by personal rule of a stringent kind. 



482. To make clear the genesis of this leading political 

 institution, let us set down in brief the several influences 

 which have conspired to effect it, and the several stages 

 passed through. 



In the rudest groups, resistance to the assumption of 

 supremacy by any individual, usually prevents the establish 

 ment of settled headship; though some influence is com- 



