thousands all over France,[532] so Weishaupt is careful in general to
exhibit the face of a benign philosopher and even of a Christian
evangelist; it is only at moments that he drops the mask and reveals the
grinning satyr behind it.

Accordingly in the published statutes of the Illuminati no hint of
subversive intentions will be found; indeed the "Obligation" expressly
states that "nothing against the State, religion, or morals is
undertaken."

Yet what is Weishaupt's real political theory? No other than that of
modern Anarchy, that man should govern himself and rulers should be
gradually done away with. But he is careful to deprecate all ideas of
violent revolution--the process is to be accomplished by the most
peaceful methods. Let us see how gently he leads up to the final
conclusion:

The first stage in the life of the whole human race is savagery,
rough nature, in which the family is the only society, and hunger
and thirst are easily satisfied, ... in which man enjoys the two
most excellent goods, Equality and Liberty, to their fullest
extent.... In these circumstances ... health was his usual
condition.... Happy men, who were not yet enough enlightened to
lose their peace of mind and to be conscious of the unhappy
mainsprings and causes of our misery, love of power ... envy ...
illnesses and all the results of imagination.

The manner in which man fell from this primitive state of felicity is
then described:

As families increased, means of subsistence began to lack, the
nomadic life ceased, property was instituted, men established
themselves firmly, and through agriculture families drew near each
other, thereby language developed and through living together men
began to measure themselves against each other, etc.... But here
was the cause of the downfall of freedom; equality vanished. Man
felt new unknown needs....[533]

Thus men became dependent like minors under the guardianship of kings;
the human must attain its majority and become self-governing:

Why should it be impossible that the human race should attain to
its highest perfection, the capacity to guide itself? Why should
anyone be eternally led who understands how to lead himself?[534]

Further, men must learn not only to be independent of kings but of each
other:

Who has need of another depends on him and has resigned his rights.
So to