This
is given merely as a fact of history. The truly philosophic eye, we
believe, cannot be long in discerning that these larger combinations
and more comprehensive unities are only a necessary outgrowth of an
improving civilization, and indispensable to the fullest measure of
happiness; since in them only can the life of a cultured people find the
means of its best expression. The growth of unity, as revealed in
history, is not an arbitrary thing incident to a chance concurrence of
causes, but naturally growing out of the needs of a steady progress in
the education and freedom of the people.
To say that it is through great social and political institutions that
the individual finds the most ample means for the culture and
satisfaction of the faculties and wants of his nature, is but another
way of saying that it is through such institutions that he finds the
widest range for individual liberty. A very little observation of
history will show that as political unity has enlarged and political
organization become more distinctly marked, the radii of individual
freedom have at the same time swept a wider field.
Despotism curtails enterprise, and prevents the specialization of parts
and functions as the genuine condition of unity. The free play of
intelligence and interest is necessary to develop the diversity upon
which unity depends.
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