-nothing to rouse emulation or
stimulate to praiseworthy ambition. Why, my dear father, what an idle,
unprofitable, weary world would this be, if it were based on equality!"

"But, allowing all that, Jack," replied Mr Easy, "and I will say you
argue well in a bad cause, why should the inequality be carried so far?
king and lords, for instance."

"The most lasting and imperishable form of building is that of the
pyramid, which defies ages, and to that may the most perfect form of
society be compared. It is based upon the many, and rising by degrees,
it becomes less as wealth, talent, and rank increase in the individual,
until it ends at the apex, or monarch, above all. Yet each several
stone from the apex to the base is necessary for the preservation of the
structure, and fulfils its duty in its allotted place. Could you prove
that those at the summit possess the greatest share of happiness in this
world, then, indeed, you have a position to argue on; but it is well
known that such is not the case; and, provided he is of a contented
mind, the peasant is more happy than the king, surrounded as the latter
is by cares and anxiety."

"Very well argued indeed, my dear sir," observed Dr Middleton.

"But, my dear boy, there are other states of society than monarchy; we
have republics and despotisms."

"We have, but how long do they last, compared to the first? There is a
cycle in the changes which never varies. A monarchy may be overthrown
by a revolution, and republicanism succeed, but that is shortly followed
by despotism, till, after a time, monarchy succeeds again by unanimous
consent, as the most legitimate and equitable form of government; but in
none of these do you find a single advance to equality. In a republic
those who govern are more powerful than the rulers in a restricted
monarchy--a president is greater than a king, and next to a despot,
whose will is law. Even in small societies you find that some will
naturally take the lead and assume domination. We commence the system
at school, when we are first thrown into society, and there we are
taught systems of petty tyranny. There are some few points in which we
can obtain equality in this world, and that equality can only be
obtained under a well-regulated form of society, and consists in an
equal administration of justice and of laws to which we have agreed to
submit for the benefit of the whole--the equal right to live and not be
permitted to starve