Page:A Vindication of Natural Society - Burke (1756).djvu/56

 one of Fear.In this Kind of Government human Nature is not only abused, and insulted, but it is actually degraded and sunk into a Species of Brutality. The Consideration of this made Mr. Locke say, with great Justice, that a Government of this Kind was worse than Anarchy; indeed it is so abhorred, and detested by all who live under Forms that have a milder Appearance, that there is scarce a rational Man in Europe, that would not prefer Death to Asiatick Despotism. Here then we have the Acknowledgement of a great Philosopher, that an irregular State of Nature is preferable to such a Government; we have the Consent of all sensible and generous Men, who carry it yet further, and avow that Death itself is preferable; and yet this Species of Government, so justly condemned, and so generally detested, is what infinitely the greater Part of Mankind groan under, and have groaned under from the Beginning. So that by sure and uncontested Principles, the great-