Thus  it  is  that  almost  all  the  great  maxims  of  public  morality  are
condemned  on  account  of  their  salient  faults,  while  their  deter-
mining grounds  are  hidden  till  exhibited  by  an  exact  analysis,
which  must  in  many  cases  be  extremely  delicate.  Thus  again,  it  is
that  all  true  moral  order  is  incompatible  with  the  existing  vagabond
liberty  of  individual  minds,  if  such  license  were  to  last ;  for  the
great  social  rules  which  should  become  customary  can  not  be  aban-
doned to  the  blind  and  arbitrary  decision  of  an  incompetent  public
without  losing  all  their  efficacy.  The  requisite  convergence  of  the
best  minds  can  not  be  obtained  without  the  voluntary  renunciation,
on  the  part  of  most  of  them,  of  their  sovereign  right  of  free  inquiry,
which  they  will  doubtless  be  willing  to  abdicate,  as  soon  as  they
have  found  organs  worthy  to  exercise  appropriately  their  vain  pro-
visional supremacy.  If  it  is  so  in  problems  of  science,  there  is
every  reason  to  expect  it  in  the  more  difficult  questions  of  social
principle.  Meanwhile,  all  vague  notions  of  public  good,  degen-
erating into  an  indistinct  philanthropy,  must  succumb  to  the  ener-
getic forces  of  a  highly-stimulated  selfishness.  In  the  daily  course
of  our  political  conflicts  we  see  accordingly  the  most  conscientious
men  taxing  each  other  with  wickedness  and  folly ;  and,  on  every
serious  occasion,  the  most  opposite  doctrines  maintained  by  persons
3qually  worthy  of  confidence :  and,  while  all  deep  and  steady  con-
viction is  thus  rendered  impossible,  no  true  political  morality  can
he  hoped  for  by  those  who  desire  it  most.
