^ An ordinance founded on right reason, drawn up and
promulgated for the common good ty him who has charge of
the community affected. Applicable to moral acts alone, to
acts proceeding from an intellect and a free will. This defi-
nition is taken bodily from St. Thomas, Summa Theol. 1. 2;
Q. 90; a. 4. All four causes, material, formal, final and ef-
ficient, enter into its composition. It separates law from
every conceivable notion resembling the same. It observes
due bounds, and keeps law within its own limits. On ac-
count of these several qualities the definition is all that can
be desired, and commends itself to everybody. Thus, the
matter of law is derived from principles vouched for by
right reason. No other rule can be of binding force on men
possessed of intellects. This is so true that a clearly unrea-
sonable law is no law at all. It may be well, however, to
remark that, commonly speaking, the only safe position to
occupy in this matter is voiced in that saying of moralists,
"In doubt acquiescence in the will of the superior is a duty."
The care of a community is so complex a thing, affected by
circumstances so far above the understanding and apprecia-
tion of individuals governed, that the superior alone, with
multiplied advantages at his disposal, and a clear vision of
intricate details, can best judge what ruling the exigencies of
the case demand. He alone knows best the wants of his em-
pire. He alone knows best what good results, in the long
run, this or that enactment will, in spite of appearances to
the contrary, effect. His practised eye is accustomed to look
at things from a higher plane. Individuals in the state look
not beyond personal convenience and inconvenience, and
would, perhaps, in their selfishness little reck what fate be-
fell the government, if only they escaped unhurt from the
ruins. Hence, they are wide awake to detect in every new
ruling some semblance of injustice. Men are born rebels,
and are apt to be prejudiced judges, when passing on a law
that interferes with their privileges, or cuts down the measure
of their liberties. They easily lose sight of the circumstance,
that legislation is primarily for the community's benefit; that
the individual must on occasions retire into the background.
