Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 41.djvu/221

Rh of that difference between these structures to which Mr. Spencer, Mr. Fiske, and others have called attention.

As to the essential nature of those purely physical forces which we call attractive—e. g., gravitation, cohesion, and chemical affinity—we really know nothing. We know these forces only through their observed effects; and their "laws" which we deduce from repeated observations of these effects are merely our subjective classifications of orderly recurrent phenomena and their recognized conditions. In regard to sociological phenomena, however, we have an additional source of information. We can study the attractive forces which bind society together, not only in the secondary relation of their observed effects, but also in their primary relation, as movements of our own thought. Affection and self-interest are thus seen to be the attractive forces which bind society together, and these forces are consciously directed and made steadily operative solely by individual volition. Therefore it is that in its psychical aspect—the aspect directly involved in all measures of social advancement—society is subordinated to the individual, the structure to the unit, instead of the reverse, as in the evolution of animal and vegetal organisms.

All actual and permanent expansion and integration of society proceeds from the voluntary, co-operative action of individuals. The social reformer, therefore, who would work in harmony with the tendencies and laws of Nature must direct his efforts toward convincing the judgments and influencing the motives and moral natures of individual men and women, rather than toward forcibly changing the customs of society by legal enactments, official pronunciamentos, or majority votes under the white heat of an emotional political campaign. All of these popular and customary agencies of political action are doubtless of some service as educational influences, inciting thought among large classes of people who would otherwise remain passive puppets or unreflecting adherents of conventional social customs; but as means of finally solving and disposing of social and political problems they are lamentable failures.

It is strange that our socialistic reformers, who advocate the cure of societary ills by legislation and the paternal control of the Government over the affairs of the individual, do not see that men and women must first be personally convinced of the utility of such public arrangements as they advocate, with substantial unanimity, before legislation in their behalf could possibly be effective. And when the practical unity of sentiment has been wrought out in the community which would insure the