have to rebel against novelty. It is the new rulers, the
capitalist or the editor, who really hold up the modern world. There is
no fear that a modern king will attempt to override the constitution; it
is more likely that he will ignore the constitution and work behind its
back; he will take no advantage of his kingly power; it is more likely
that he will take advantage of his kingly powerlessness, of the fact
that he is free from criticism and publicity. For the king is the most
private person of our time. It will not be necessary for any one to
fight again against the proposal of a censorship of the press. We do not
need a censorship of the press. We have a censorship by the press.

This startling swiftness with which popular systems turn oppressive is
the third fact for which we shall ask our perfect theory of progress to
allow. It must always be on the look out for every privilege being
abused, for every working right becoming a wrong. In this matter I am
entirely on the side of the revolutionists. They are really right to be
always suspecting human institutions; they are right not to put their
trust in princes nor in any child of man. The chieftain chosen to be the
friend of the people becomes the enemy of the people; the newspaper
started to tell the truth now exists to prevent the truth being told.
Here, I say, I felt that I was really at last on the side of the
revolutionary. And then I caught my breath again: for I remembered that
I was once again on the side of the orthodox.

Christianity spoke again and said, "I have always maintained that men
were naturally backsliders; that human virtue tended of its own nature
to rust or to rot; I have always said that human beings as such go
wrong, especially happy human beings, especially proud and prosperous
human beings. This eternal revolution, this suspicion sustained through
centuries, you (being a vague modern) call the doctrine of progress. If
you were a philosopher you would call it, as I do, the doctrine of
original sin. You may call it the cosmic advance as much as you like; I
call it what it is--the Fall.

I have spoken of orthodoxy coming in like a sword; here I confess it
came in like a battle-axe. For really (when I came to think of it)
Christianity is the only thing left that has any real right to question
the power of the well-nurtured or the well-bred. I have listened often
enough to Socialists, or even to democrats, saying that the physical
conditions