eck, and made oppression pause.

History is usually written from one of three points of view--political,
literary or economic. Macaulay stands for the first, Taine the second,
Buckle the third. Each writer considers his subject supreme. When we
speak of the history of a country we usually refer to its statesmen.

Politicians live the lives of moths as compared with the lasting
influence of commerce that feeds, houses and clothes, says Buckle.

Rulers govern, but it is literature that enlightens, says Taine.

Literature and commerce are made possible only through the wisdom of
statesmen, says Macaulay.

Edmund Burke's business was statecraft; his play was letters; but he
lives for us through letters.

He had two sets of ardent friends: his political associates, and that
other little group of literary cronies made up of Johnson, Goldsmith,
Boswell, Reynolds and Garrick.

With these his soul was free--his sense of sublimity then found wings:
the vocabulary of Johnson, the purling poetry of Goldsmith, the grace of
Garrick's mimicry, the miracle of Reynolds' pencil and brush--these
ministered to his hungry heart.

They were forms of expression.

All life is an expression of spirit.

Burke's life was dedicated to expression.

He expressed through speech, personal presence and written words. Who
ever expressed in this way so well? And--stay!--who ever had so much
that was worth while to express?

WILLIAM PITT

Time was when slaves were exported like cattle from the British
Coast and exposed for sale in the Roman market. These men and women
who were thus sold were supposed to be guilty of witchcraft, debt,
blasphemy or theft. Or else they were prisoners taken in war--they
had forfeited their right to freedom, and we sold them. We said
they were incapable of self-government and so must be looked after.
Later we quit selling British slaves, but began to buy and trade in
African humanity. We silenced conscience by saying, "It's all
right--they are incapable of self-government." We were once as
obscure, as debased, as ignorant, as barbaric, as the African is
now. I trust that the time will come when we are willing to give to
Africa the opportunity, the hope, the right to attain to the same
blessings that we ourselves enjoy.

--_William Pitt, on "Abolition of Slavery in England"_

[Illustration: WILLIAM PITT]

The Law of Her