o does every man now demand of the community as a whole that he
shall be permitted to share equally in its benefits, and also, in order
that his claims may be represented, that he shall have a voice in its
councils. Do not misunderstand me. I do not mean that all men,
therefore, must here and now be held to be equal; but only that they
must be held to be capable of being as good as the best until they have
demonstrated the contrary by forfeiting their opportunity. Nor do I
mean that all men must therefore be given the ballot. We are
discussing a question not of instrument, but of principle. I do mean
that there is an idea that the best of life is for all; and that if
there are many that are incapable of entering into it, then they must
be helped to be capable. And I mean, furthermore, that _this idea
works irresistibly_. It commands the support of the whole army of
interests. It will never be abandoned because it makes for the
increase of life on the whole; and hence no social order will from
henceforth be stable that is not based upon it.

This idea that all men alike shall be the beneficiaries of government,
when taken together {160} with the ancient ideas that government shall
be directly responsible to its beneficiaries, and shall make as liberal
an allowance as possible for their individual claims and opinions,
constitutes the general principle upon which the progressive modern
state is founded. Let me briefly recapitulate certain characteristics
of the modern state[12] which indicate its recognition of this
principle, and hence its advance on the whole over earlier types.

1. In the first place, the modern state is essentially a territorial
rather than a racial or proprietary unit. In other words, it is
clearly defined as a necessity and utility arising out of the
circumstance of propinquity. If men are to cast in their lot together
they must submit to organization, and obey laws promulgated in the
interest of the community as a whole. To-day men understand that if
they had no government it would be necessary to invent one; that the
existing government, whatever divinity doth hedge it, is thus virtually
the instrument of their needs.

2. Secondly, this moral function of government is emphasized through
being largely freed from personal or dynastic connections and expressed
as a constitutional office.

3. Thirdly, the requirements of justice and good-will are reconciled
with order through the pri