asy prey
to such men; and until they have learnt to detect the false from the
true, until they become acquainted with the elements of political
science, and have been taught that their own selfish interests are not
the highest aims of social government, it is vain to hope for a
reasonable method of regulating the affairs of the nation, based upon
logical laws and scientific principles.

And how is this work of educating the electors to be accomplished? Not,
I maintain, by furious speeches and rhetorical displays; not by bribery,
baits and banter; but by patient, never-ceasing labour, by lectures on
history and science, by individual instruction, is the great work to be
accomplished upon which the security and stability of the country
depend.

Then we may hope that the 'Reign of Law' in polemical science may be
ushered in with the joyful acclamations of an enlightened and united
people, and its benign influence extend from the throne of the monarch
and the council-chamber of his ministers to the hearth of the cottager.
Politicians will rule by law; policies be calculated by laws; people
vote by law; and then methinks I see in my mind (to use the words of the
blind old poet) a noble and puissant nation rousing herself like a
strong man after sleep, and shaking her invincible locks; methinks I see
her as an eagle, renewing her mighty youth, and kindling her undazzled
eyes at the full mid-day beam; purging and unsealing her long-abused
sight at the fountain itself of heavenly radiance; while the whole noise
of timorous and flocking birds flutter about amazed at what she means.
Such is the glorious vision of the 'Reign of Law.' Let it be the
business of every Englishman and Englishwoman to arrange the framework
of our social and political system, that law may have an uninterrupted
sway; then shall we be a united, prosperous, and contented people, and
the reign of lawless agitators, bribery-mongers, and counterfeit
statesmen will have passed away into the oblivion and obscurity of a
more suitable but less favoured region.

PAPER VIII.

ON THE PRINCIPLE OF POLEMICAL COHESION.

In my previous lectures I have had occasion to mention the principle of
cohesion; but it plays so vital a part in the constitution of States and
their relations to each other that I consider it advisable to devote
this lecture entirely to it.

This is a large and comprehensive subject, and embraces such principles
as the Centralization of