The Ethics of Opinion. 263 
flicted solely upon the offenders themselves. Indeed, the 
errors of individuals are frequently visited far more heavily 
upon other members of society. And how admirable are the 
consequences of this fact! For it is precisely thus that 
society acquires a direct interest which it could not otherwise 
possess, in discouraging in all, those acts, the evil consequences 
of which would else have to be learned by each individual in 
his own experience, while society would be but a passive dis- 
interested spectator. But for this apparent injustice, one of 
the most stringent bonds by which society is established and 
held together, would be alogether wanting. 
Both nature’s punishments and her rewards are inevitable 
and necessary consequences of breaches of that universal law 
of self-interest which is the basis of her beautiful selfadjust- 
ing system, that administers itself so harmoniously. But 
nature as certainly neither blames nor praises ; and knowing 
how infallible is her administration and how perfect her code, 
can we do better than obey her precepts and follow her in- 
structions? When a limb mortifies, is not amputation 
necessary to preserve life? On the same principle I say, 
society DID right in hanging the murderer, But should I be 
justified in saying so if I suppressed my reasons ? 
I object to “ A.K.H.B’s” words, “SERVED HIM right,” for 
they convey to my mind an idea of even exclusive regard to 
his (the murderer’s) interest Instead of to that of the rest of 
society, the unworthy as well as the worthy portion; the 
first requiring a salutary warning, and the second effective 
security against such conduct. He cancelled his title to any 
consideration when he incurred the penalty decreed by 
society to those who violate that of others. Still, why, 
“SERVED HIM right”? Asif the Evit of his crime could be 
quantitatively estimated and balanced, by the Evin of his 
punishment! Why, as respected even HIM, must not the 
first evil in its natural consequences have been enough ? And 
what did the second but double it? Swell the account of 
evil! Evil simply multiplied! As I before pointed out, the 
sole province of society is to govern its body ; to secure the 
good, to warn, to instruct, and to convince the bad, by effec- 
' tual arguments; even by the punishment, removal, or 
destruction of its hopelessly useless members; in fact to 
utilise them as visible examples of the evil consequences of 
bad acts. 
If the supposition of a post mortem rectification of the 
imagined unequal apportionment of good and evil to indi- 
