Allpoliticianssharethesameopinion,whichiswhyweprogresssoslowly。Eachpartyispersuadedthatbymeansofreformsallevilscouldberemedied。ThisconvictionresultsinstrugglessuchashavemadeFrancethemostdividedcountryintheworldandthemostsubjecttoanarchy。
Nooneyetseemstounderstandthatindividualsandtheirmethods,notregulations,makethevalueofapeople。Theefficaciousreformsarenottherevolutionaryreformsbutthetriflingameliorationsofeverydayaccumulatedincourseoftime。Thegreatsocialchanges,likethegreatgeologicalchanges,areeffectedbythedailyadditionofminutecauses。
TheeconomichistoryofGermanyduringthelastfortyyearsprovesinastrikingmannerthetruthofthislaw。
Manyimportanteventswhichseemtodependmoreorlessonhazard——asbattles,forexample——arethemselvessubjecttothislawoftheaccumulationofsmallcauses。Nodoubtthedecisivestruggleissometimesterminatedinadayorless,butmanyminuteefforts,slowlyaccumulated,areessentialtovictory。Wehadapainfulexperienceofthisin1870,andtheRussianshavelearneditmorerecently。BarelyhalfanhourdidAdmiralTogoneedtoannihilatetheRussianfleet,atthebattleofTsushima,whichfinallydecidedthefateofJapan,butthousandsoflittlefactors,smallandremote,determinedthatsuccess。CausesnotlessnumerousengenderedthedefeatoftheRussians——abureaucracyascomplicatedasours,andasirresponsible;
lamentablematerial,althoughpaidforbyitsweightingold;asystemofgraftateverydegreeofthesocialhierarchy,andgeneralindifferencetotheinterestsofthecountry。
Unhappilytheprogressinlittlethingswhichbytheirtotalmakeupthegreatnessofanationisrarelyapparent,producesnoimpressiononthepublic,andcannotservetheinterestsofpoliticiansatelections。Theselattercarenothingforsuchmatters,andpermittheaccumulation,inthecountriessubjecttotheirinfluence,ofthelittlesuccessivedisorganisationswhichfinallyresultingreatdownfalls。
5。SocialDistinctionsinDemocraciesandDemocraticIdeasinVariousCountries。
Whenmenweredividedintocastesanddifferentiatedchieflybybirth,socialdistinctionsweregenerallyacceptedastheconsequencesofanunavoidablenaturallaw。
Assoonastheoldsocialdivisionsweredestroyedthedistinctionsoftheclassesappearedartificial,andforthatreasonceasedtobetolerated。
Thenecessityofequalitybeingtheoretical,wehaveseenamongdemocraticpeoplestherapiddevelopmentofartificialinequalities,permittingtheirpossessorstomakeforthemselvesaplainlyvisiblesupremacy。Neverwasthethirstfortitlesanddecorationssogeneralasto—day。
Inreallydemocraticcountries,suchastheUnitedStates,titlesanddecorationsdonotexertmuchinfluence,andfortunealonecreatesdistinctions。ItisonlybyexceptionthatweseewealthyyoungAmericangirlsallyingthemselvestotheoldnamesoftheEuropeanaristocracy。Theyaretheninstinctivelyemployingtheonlymeanswhichwillpermitayoungracetoacquireapastthatwillestablishitsmoralframework。
ButinageneralfashionthearistocracythatweseespringingupinAmericaisbynomeansfoundedontitlesanddecorations。
Purelyfinancial,itdoesnotprovokemuchjealousy,becauseeveryonehopesonedaytoformpartofit。
When,inhisbookondemocracyinAmerica,Toquevillespokeofthegeneralaspirationtowardsequalityhedidnotrealisethattheprophesiedequalitywouldendintheclassificationofmenfoundedexclusivelyonthenumberofdollarspossessedbythem。
NootherexistsintheUnitedStates,anditwilldoubtlessonedaybethesameinEurope。
AtpresentwecannotpossiblyregardFranceasademocraticcountrysaveonpaper,andherewefeelthenecessity,alreadyreferredto,ofexaminingthevariousideaswhichindifferentcountriesareexpressedbytheword``democracy。’’
OftrulydemocraticnationswecanpracticallymentiononlyEnglandandtheUnitedStates。There,democracyoccursindifferentforms,butthesameprinciplesareobserved——notably,aperfecttolerationofallopinions。Religiouspersecutionsareunknown。Realsuperiorityeasilyrevealsitselfinthevariousprofessionswhichanyonecanenteratanyageifhepossessesthenecessarycapacity。Thereisnobarriertoindividualeffort。
Insuchcountriesmenbelievethemselvesequalbecauseallhavetheideathattheyarefreetoattainthesameposition。Theworkmanknowshecanbecomeforeman,andthenengineer。Forcedtobeginonthelowerrungsoftheladderinsteadofhighupthescale,asinFrance,theengineerdoesnotregardhimselfasmadeofdifferentstufftotherestofmankind。Itisthesameinallprofessions。Thisiswhytheclasshatred,sointenseinEurope,issolittledevelopedinEnglandandAmerica。
InFrancethedemocracyispracticallynon—existentsaveinspeeches。Asystemofcompetitionsandexaminations,whichmustbeworkedthroughinyouth,firmlyclosesthedoorupontheliberalprofessions,andcreatesinimicalandseparateclasses。
TheLatindemocraciesarethereforepurelytheoretical。TheabsolutismoftheStatehasreplacedmonarchicalabsolutism,butitisnolesssevere。Thearistocracyoffortunehasreplacedthatofbirth,anditsprivilegesarenolessconsiderable。
Monarchiesanddemocraciesdifferfarmoreinformthaninsubstance。Itisonlythevariablementalityofmenthatvariestheireffects。Allthediscussionsastovarioussystemsofgovernmentarereallyofnointerest,forthesehavenospecialvirtueofthemselves。Theirvaluewillalwaysdependonthatofthepeoplegoverned。Apeopleeffectsgreatandrapidprogresswhenitdiscoversthatitisthesumofthepersonaleffortsofeachindividualandnotthesystemofgovernmentthatdeterminestherankofanationintheworld。
CHAPTERIII
THENEWFORMSOFDEMOCRATICBELIEF
1。TheConflictbetweenCapitalandLabour。
Whileourlegislatorsarereformingandlegislatingathazard,thenaturalevolutionoftheworldisslowlypursuingitscourse。
Newinterestsarise,theeconomiccompetitionbetweennationandnationincreasesinseverity,theworking—classesarebestirringthemselves,andonallsidesweseethebirthofformidableproblemswhichtheharanguesofthepoliticianswillneverresolve。
Amongthesenewproblemsoneofthemostcomplicatedwillbetheproblemoftheconflictbetweenlabourandcapital。ItisbecomingacuteeveninsuchacountryoftraditionasEngland。
Workingmenareceasingtorespectthecollectivecontractswhichformerlyconstitutedtheircharter,strikesaredeclaredforinsignificantmotives,andunemploymentandpauperismareattainingdisquietingproportions。
InAmericathesestrikeswouldfinallyhaveaffectedallindustriesbutthattheveryexcessoftheevilcreatedaremedy。
Duringthelasttenyearstheindustrialleadershaveorganisedgreatemployers’federations,whichhavebecomepowerfulenoughtoforcetheworkerstosubmittoarbitration。
ThelabourquestioniscomplicatedinFrancebytheinterventionofnumerousforeignworkers,whichthestagnationofourpopulationhasrenderednecessary。[13]ThisstagnationwillalsomakeitdifficultforFrancetocontendwithherrivals,whosesoilwillsoonnolongerbeabletonourishitsinhabitants,who,followingoneoftheoldestlawsofhistory,willnecessarilyinvadethelessdenselypeopledcountries。
[13]PopulationoftheGreatPowers:——
1789。1906。
Russia……28,000,000129,000,000
Germany……28,000,00057,000,000
Austria……18,000,00044,000,000
England……12,000,00040,000,000
France……26,000,00039,000,000
TheseconflictsbetweentheworkersandemployersofthesamenationwillberenderedstillmoreacutebytheincreasingeconomicstrugglebetweentheAsiatics,whoseneedsaresmall,andwhocanthereforeproducemanufacturedarticlesatverylowprices,andtheEuropeans,whoseneedsaremany。Fortwenty—fiveyearsIhavelaidstressuponthispoint。GeneralHamilton,ex—
militaryattachetotheJapanesearmy,whoforesawtheJapanesevictorieslongbeforetheoutbreakofhostilities,writesasfollowsinanessaytranslatedbyGeneralLanglois:——
``TheChinaman,suchasIhaveseenhiminManchuria,iscapableofdestroyingthepresenttypeofworkerofthewhiteraces。Hewilldrivehimoffthefaceoftheearth。TheSocialists,whopreachequalitytothelabourer,arefarfromthinkingwhatwouldbethepracticalresultofcarryingouttheirtheories。Isit,then,thedestinyofthewhiteracestodisappearinthelongrun?Inmyhumbleopinionthisdestinydependsupononesinglefactor:Shallweorshallwenothavethegoodsensetocloseourearstospeecheswhichpresentwarandpreparationforwarasauselessevil?
``Ibelievetheworkersmustchoose。Giventhepresentconstitutionoftheworld,theymustcultivateintheirchildrenthemilitaryideal,andacceptgracefullythecostandtroublewhichmilitarismentails,ortheywillbeletinforacruelstruggleforlifewitharivalworkerofwhosesuccessthereisnottheslightestdoubt。ThereisonlyonemeansofrefusingAsiaticstherighttoemigrate,tolowerwagesbycompetition,andtoliveinourmidst,andthatisthesword。IfAmericansandEuropeansforgetthattheirprivilegedpositionisheldonlybyforceofarms,Asiawillsoonhavetakenherrevenge。’’
WeknowthatinAmericatheinvasionofChineseandJapanese,owingtothecompetitionbetweenthemandtheworkersofwhiterace,hasbecomeanationalcalamity。InEuropetheinvasioniscommencing,buthasnotasyetgonefar。ButalreadyChineseemigrantshaveformedimportantcoloniesincertaincentres——
London,Cardiff,Liverpool,&c。Theyhaveprovokedseveralriotsbyworkingforlowwages。Theirappearancehasalwaysloweredsalaries。
Buttheseproblemsbelongtothefuture,andthoseofthepresentaresodisquietingthatitisuselessatthemomenttooccupyourselveswithothers。
2。TheEvolutionoftheWorking—ClassesandtheSyndicalistMovement。
Themostimportantdemocraticproblemofthedaywillperhapsresultfromtherecentdevelopmentoftheworking—classengenderedbytheSyndicalistorTradesUnionmovement。
TheaggregationofsimilarinterestsknownasSyndicalismhasrapidlyassumedsuchenormousdevelopmentsinallcountriesthatitmaybecalledworld—wide。CertaincorporationshavebudgetscomparabletothoseofsmallStates。SomeGermanleagueshavebeencitedashavingsavedoverthreemillionssterlinginsubscriptions。
Theextensionofthelabourmovementinallcountriesshowsthatitisnot,likeSocialism,adreamofUtopiantheorists,buttheresultofeconomicnecessities。Initsaim,itsmeansofaction,anditstendencies,SyndicalismpresentsnokinshipwithSocialism。HavingsufficientlyexplaineditinmyPoliticalPsychology,itwillsufficeheretorecallinafewwordsthedifferencebetweenthetwodoctrines。
Socialismwouldobtainpossessionofallindustries,andhavethemmanagedbytheState,whichwoulddistributetheproductsequallybetweenthecitizens。Syndicalism,ontheotherhand,wouldentirelyeliminatetheactionoftheState,anddividesocietyintosmallprofessionalgroupswhichwouldbeself—governing。
AlthoughdespisedbytheSyndicalistsandviolentlyattackedbythem,theSocialistsaretryingtoignoretheconflict,butitisrapidlybecomingtooobvioustobeconcealed。ThepoliticalinfluencewhichtheSocialistsstillpossesswillsoonescapethem。
IfSyndicalismiseverywhereincreasingattheexpenseofSocialism,itis,Irepeat,becausethiscorporativemovement,althougharenewalofthepast,synthetisescertainneedsbornofthespecialisationofmodernindustry。
Weseeitsmanifestationsunderagreatvarietyofcircumstances。
InFranceitssuccesshasnotasyetbeenasgreataselsewhere。
Havingtakentherevolutionaryformalreadymentioned,ithasfallen,atleastforthetimebeing,intothehandsoftheanarchists,whocareaslittleforSyndicalismasforanysortoforganisation,andaresimplyusingthenewdoctrineinanattempttodestroymodernsociety。Socialists,Syndicalists,andanarchists,althoughdirectedbyentirelydifferentconceptions,arethuscollaboratinginthesameeventualaim——theviolentsuppressionoftherulingclassesandthepillageoftheirwealth。
TheSyndicalistdoctrinedoesnotinanywayderivefromtheprinciplesofRevolution。OnmanypointsitisentirelyincontradictionwiththeRevolution。SyndicalismrepresentsratherareturntocertainformsofcollectiveorganisationsimilartotheguildsorcorporationsproscribedbytheRevolution。ItthusconstitutesoneofthosefederationswhichtheRevolutioncondemned。ItentirelyrejectstheStatecentralisationwhichtheRevolutionestablished。
Syndicalismcaresnothingforthedemocraticprinciplesofliberty,equality,andfraternity。TheSyndicalistsdemandoftheirmembersanabsolutedisciplinewhicheliminatesallliberty。
Notbeingasyetstrongenoughtoexercisemutualtyranny,thesyndicatessofarprofesssentimentsinrespectofoneanotherwhichmightbyastretchbecalledfraternal。Butassoonastheyaresufficientlypowerful,whentheircontraryinterestswillnecessarilyenterintoconflict,asduringtheSyndicalistperiodoftheoldItalianrepublics——FlorenceandSiena,forexample——thepresentfraternitywillspeedilybeforgotten,andequalitywillbereplacedbythedespotismofthemostpowerful。
Suchafutureseemsnearathand。Thenewpowerisincreasingveryrapidly,andfindstheGovernmentspowerlessbeforeit,abletodefendthemselvesonlybyyieldingtoeverydemand——anodiouspolicy,whichmayserveforthemoment,butwhichheavilycompromisesthefuture。
Itwas,however,tothispoorrecoursethattheEnglishGovernmentrecentlyresortedinitsstruggleagainsttheMiners’
Union,whichthreatenedtosuspendtheindustriallifeofEngland。TheUniondemandedaminimumwageforitsmembers,buttheywerenotboundtofurnishaminimumofwork。
Althoughsuchademandwasinadmissible,theGovernmentagreedtoproposetoParliamentalawtosanctionsuchameasure。WemayprofitablyreadtheweightywordspronouncedbyMr。BalfourbeforetheHouseofCommons:——
``Thecountryhasneverinitssolongandvariedhistoryhadtofaceadangerofthisnatureandthisimportance。
``Weareconfrontedwiththestrangeandsinisterspectacleofamereorganisationthreateningtoparalyse——andparalysinginalargemeasure——thecommerceandmanufacturesofacommunitywhichlivesbycommerceandmanufacture。
``Thepowerpossessedbytheminersisinthepresentstateofthelawalmostunlimited。Haveweeverseenthelikeofit?Dideverfeudalbaronexertacomparabletyranny?WasthereeveranAmericantrustwhichservedtherightswhichitholdsfromthelawwithsuchcontemptofthegeneralinterest?Theverydegreeofperfectiontowhichwehavebroughtourlaws,oursocialorganisation,themutualrelationbetweenthevariousprofessionsandindustries,exposesusmorethanourpredecessorsinruderagestothegraveperilwhichatpresentthreatenssociety……Wearewitnessesatthepresentmomentofthefirstmanifestationofthepowerofelementswhich,ifwearenotheedful,willsubmergethewholeofsociety……TheattitudeoftheGovernmentinyieldingtotheinjunctionoftheminersgivessomeappearanceofrealitytothevictoryofthosewhoarepittingthemselvesagainstsociety。’’
3。WhycertainmodernDemocraticGovernmentsaregraduallybeingtransformedintoGovernmentsbyAdministrativeCastes。
Anarchyandthesocialconflictsresultingfromdemocraticideasareto—dayimpellingsomeGovernmentstowardsanunforeseencourseofevolutionwhichwillendbyleavingthemonlyanominalpower。Thisdevelopment,ofwhichIshallbrieflydenotetheeffects,iseffectedspontaneouslyunderthestressofthoseimperiousnecessitieswhicharestillthechiefcontrollingpowerofevents。
TheGovernmentsofdemocraticcountriesto—dayconsistoftherepresentativeselectedbyuniversalsuffrage。Theyvotelaws,andappointanddismissministerschosenfromthemselves,andprovisionallyentrustedwiththeexecutivepower。Theseministersarenaturallyoftenreplaced,sinceavotewilldoit。Thosewhofollowthem,belongingtoadifferentparty,willgovernaccordingtodifferentprinciples。
Itmightatfirstseemthatacountrythuspulledtoandfrobyvariousinfluencescouldhavenocontinuityorstability。ButinspiteofalltheseconditionsofinstabilityademocraticGovernmentlikethatofFranceworkswithfairregularity。Howexplainsuchaphenomenon?
Itsinterpretation,whichisverysimple,resultsfromthefactthattheministerswhohavetheappearanceofgoverningreallygovernthecountryonlytoaverylimitedextent。Strictlylimitedandcircumscribed,theirpowerisexercisedprincipallyinspeecheswhicharehardlynoticedandinafewinorganicmeasures。
Butbehindthesuperficialauthorityofministers,withoutforceorduration,theplaythingsofeverydemandofthepolitician,ananonymouspowerissecretlyatworkwhosemightiscontinuallyincreasingtheadministrations。Possessingtraditions,ahierarchy,andcontinuity,theyareapoweragainstwhich,astheministersquicklyrealise,theyareincapableofstruggling。[14]
Responsibilityissodividedintheadministrativemachinethataministermayneverfindhimselfopposedbyanypersonofimportance。Hismomentaryimpulsesarecheckedbyanetworkofregulations,customs,anddecrees,whicharecontinuallyquotedtohim,andwhichheknowssolittlethathedarenotinfringethem。
[14]Theimpotenceofministersintheirowndepartmentshasbeenwelldescribedbyoneofthem,M。Cruppi,inarecentbook。Themostardentwishesoftheministerbeingimmediatelyparalysedbyhisdepartment,hepromptlyceasestostruggleagainstit。
ThisdiminutionofthepowerofdemocraticGovernmentscanonlydevelop。OneofthemostconstantlawsofhistoryisthatofwhichIhavealreadyspoken:Immediatelyanyoneclassbecomespreponderant——nobles,clergy,army,orthepeople——itspeedilytendstoenslaveothers。SuchweretheRomanarmies,whichfinallyappointedandoverthrewtheemperors;suchweretheclergy,againstwhomthekingsofoldcouldhardlystruggle;suchweretheStatesGeneral,whichatthemomentofRevolutionspeedilyabsorbedallthepowersofgovernment,andsupplantedthemonarchy。
Thecasteoffunctionariesisdestinedtofurnishafreshproofofthetruthofthislaw。Preponderantalready,theyarebeginningtospeakloudly,tomakethreats,andeventoindulgeinstrikes,suchasthatofthepostmen,whichwasquicklyfollowedbythatoftheGovernmentrailwayemployees。TheadministrativepowerthusformsalittleStatewithintheState,andifitspresentrateofrevolutioncontinuesitwillsoonconstitutetheonlypowerintheState。UnderaSocialistGovernmenttherewouldbenootherpower。Allourrevolutionswouldthenhaveresultedinstrippingthekingofhispowersandhisthroneinordertobestowthemupontheirresponsible,anonymousanddespoticclassofGovernmentclerks。
Toforeseetheissueofalltheconflictswhichthreatentocloudthefutureisimpossible。Wemuststeerclearofpessimismasofoptimism;allwecansayisthatnecessitywillalwaysfinallybringthingstoanequilibrium。Theworldpursuesitswaywithoutbotheringitselfwithourspeeches,andsoonerorlaterwemanagetoadaptourselvestothevariationsofourenvironment。Thedifficultyistodosowithouttoomuchfriction,andabovealltoresistthechimericalconceptionsofdreamers。Alwayspowerlesstore—organisetheworld,theyhaveoftencontrivedtoupsetit。
Athens,Rome,Florence,andmanyothercitieswhichformerlyshoneinhistory,werevictimsoftheseterribletheorists。Theresultsoftheirinfluencehasalwaysbeenthesame——anarchy,dictatorship,anddecadence。
ButsuchlessonswillnotaffectthenumerousCatilinesofthepresentday。Theydonotyetseethatthemovementsunchainedbytheirambitionsthreatentosubmergethem。AlltheseUtopianshaveawakenedimpossiblehopesinthemindofthecrowd,excitedtheirappetites,andsappedthedykeswhichhavebeenslowlyerectedduringthecenturiestorestrainthem。
Thestruggleoftheblindmultitudesagainsttheelectisoneofthecontinuousfactsofhistory,andthetriumphofpopularsovereigntieswithoutcounterpoisehasalreadymarkedtheendofmorethanonecivilisation。Theelectcreate,theplebsdestroys。Assoonasthefirstlosetheirholdthelatterbeginsitspreciouswork。
Thegreatcivilisationshaveonlyprosperedbydominatingtheirlowerelements。ItisnotonlyinGreecethatanarchy,dictatorship,invasion,and,finally,thelossofindependencehasresultedfromthedespotismofademocracy。Individualtyrannyisalwaysbornofcollectivetyranny。ItendedthefirstcycleofthegreatnessofRome;theBarbariansachievedthesecond。
CONCLUSIONS
Theprincipalrevolutionsofhistoryhavebeenstudiedinthisvolume。Butwehavedealtmoreespeciallywiththemostimportantofall——thatwhichformorethantwentyyearsoverwhelmedallEurope,andwhoseechoesarestilltobeheard。
TheFrenchRevolutionisaninexhaustiblemineofpsychologicaldocuments。Noperiodofthelifeofhumanityhaspresentedsuchamassofexperience,accumulatedinsoshortatime。
Oneachpageofthisgreatdramawehavefoundnumerousapplicationsoftheprinciplesexpoundedinmyvariousworks,concerningthetransitorymentalityofcrowdsandthepermanentsoulofthepeoples,theactionofbeliefs,theinfluenceofmystic,affective,andcollectiveelements,andtheconflictbetweenthevariousformsoflogic。
TheRevolutionaryAssembliesillustratealltheknownlawsofthepsychologyofcrowds。Impulsiveandtimid,theyaredominatedbyasmallnumberofleaders,andusuallyactinasensecontrarytothewishesoftheirindividualmembers。
TheRoyalistConstituentAssemblydestroyedanancientmonarchy;
thehumanitarianLegislativeAssemblyallowedthemassacresofSeptember。ThesamepacificbodyledFranceintothemostformidablecampaigns。
ThereweresimilarcontradictionsduringtheConvention。Theimmensemajorityofitsmembersabhorredviolence。Sentimentalphilosophers,theyexaltedequality,fraternity,andliberty,yetendedbyexertingthemostterribledespotism。
ThesamecontradictionswerevisibleduringtheDirectory。
Extremelymoderateintheirintentionsattheoutset,theAssemblieswerecontinuallyeffectingbloodthirstycoupsd’etat。Theywishedtore—establishreligiouspeace,andfinallysentthousandsofpriestsintoimprisonment。TheywishedtorepairtheruinswhichcoveredFrance,andonlysucceededinaddingtothem。
ThustherewasalwaysacompletecontradictionbetweentheindividualwillsofthemenoftherevolutionaryperiodandthedeedsoftheAssembliesofwhichtheywereunits。
Thetruthisthattheyobeyedinvisibleforcesofwhichtheywerenotthemasters。Believingthattheyactedinthenameofpurereason,theywerereallysubjecttomystic,affective,andcollectiveinfluences,incomprehensibletothem,andwhichweareonlyto—daybeginningtounderstand。
Intelligencehasprogressedinthecourseoftheages,andhasopenedamarvellousoutlooktoman,althoughhischaracter,therealfoundationofhismind,andthesuremotiveofhisactions,hasscarcelychanged。Overthrownonemoment,itreappearsthenext。Humannaturemustbeacceptedasitis。
ThefoundersoftheRevolutiondidnotresignthemselvestothefactsofhumannature。Forthefirsttimeinthehistoryofhumanitytheyattemptedtotransformmenandsocietyinthenameofreason。
Neverwasanyundertakingcommencedwithsuchchancesofsuccess。
Thetheorists,whoclaimedtoeffectit,hadapowerintheirhandsgreaterthanthatofanydespot。
Yet,despitethispower,despitethesuccessofthearmies,despiteDraconianlawsandrepeatedcoupsd’etat,theRevolutionmerelyheapedruinuponruin,andendedinadictatorship。
Suchanattemptwasnotuseless,sinceexperienceisnecessarytotheeducationofthepeoples。WithouttheRevolutionitwouldhavebeendifficulttoprovethatpurereasondoesnotenableustochangehumannature,and,consequently,thatnosocietycanberebuiltbythewilloflegislators,howeverabsolutetheirpower。