' Perhaps there is some ground too for this opinion. We have
before shown how, by division of labor, affection and volition have been
abstracted from life, while only a formal performance of duties by
others remains, and it would be strange if, under such _regime_, these
parts of the human nature should not become shrunken. But the soul is
not wholly gone yet; the world is mistaken--a little is left which
cannot be measured by dollars and cents, enough of benevolence yet to
make tolerable, enough of faith and love in the hearts of a few holy men
to keep the world from corruption.
Society was called by the Great Master a brotherhood. Even in heathen
times men were held by ties of kindred and country; now they acknowledge
practically no bond but that of interest. The word that is continually
in our mouths is 'framework of society,' 'social mechanism,' as though
it were impelled by a force from without, instead of being a living and
vital thing, moved and governed by its own vital forces. 'Law of
averages,' 'honesty is the best policy,' 'law of supply and demand,' are
supposed to be the forces that drive the affair, while any such power as
love or faith is ignored. But as with individuals, so with society. The
world is not so bad as it declares itself to be. Enough of patriotism is
still left to affect the gold market at times, enough of faith to keep
alive the effete aristocracy of Europe, enough of courage and honor to
rally around and bravely uphold a tattered flag in a battle for
constitutional freedom.
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