THE HARMONY OF VIRTUE

Academic ThoughtsThe Object of Government — It is the habitof men to blind themselves by customary trains of associatedthought, to come to look on the means as an end and honour itwith a superstitious reverence as a wonder-working fetish. Theprinciple of good government is not to keep men quiet, but tokeep them satisfied. It is not its objective to have loyal servantsand subjects, but to give all individuals in the nation the utmostpossible facilities for being men and realising their highest manhood.The ideal of the state is not a hive of bees or a herd ofcattle, shepherded by strong watch-dogs, but an association offree men for mutual help and human advancement. The merefact of a government doing what it does well and firmly, is nothingin its favour. It is more important to know what it does and whereit is leading us.*European Justice — The modern court is a curious and instructiveinstitution. Under a civilised disguise it is really themediaeval ordeal by battle; only in place of the swords or lancesof military combatants, it is decided by the tongues of pleadersand the imagination of witnesses; whoever can lie most consistently,plausibly and artistically has the best chance of winning.In one aspect, it is an exhilarating gamble, a very Monte-Carloof surprising chances. But there is skill in it too and satisfies theintellect as well as the sensations. It is a sort of human game of‘Bridge’, combining luck and skill or an intellectual gladiatorialshow. The stake in big cases is a man's property or his soul.Vae Victis! Woe to the conquered! If it is a criminal case, thetortures of the jail are in prospect, be he innocent or be he guilty.And as he stands there — for to add to the pleasurableness ofhis case, the physical ache of long standing is usually added tothe strain on his emotions — he looks eagerly not to the truth orfalsehood of the evidence for or against him, but to the skill with