ute principle, but upon a balance of
probabilities.

"This, then, is the first point I wished to make, that the whole
question is one to be attacked by criticism, not by intuition. But
now, tested by criticism, both the extreme positions suggest the
gravest possible difficulties and doubts. In the case of anarchy,
especially, these force themselves upon the most superficial view. The
anarchist maintains, in effect, that to bring about his ideal of
ordered liberty all you have to do is to abolish government. But he
can point to no experience that will justify such a belief. It is
based upon a theory of human nature which is contradicted by all the
facts known to us. For if men, were it not for government, might be
living in the garden of Eden, how comes it that they ever emerged from
that paradise? No, it is not government that is the root of our
troubles, it is the niggardliness of Nature and the greed of man. And
both these are primitive facts which would be strengthened, not
destroyed, by anarchy. Can it be believed that the result would be
satisfactory? The anarchist may indeed reply that anything would be
better than what exists. And I can well understand how some generous
and sensitive souls, or some victims of intolerable oppression, may be
driven into such counsels. But they are surely counsels of despair.
Or is it possible really to hold--as MacCarthy apparently does--that on
the eve of a bloody revolution, whereby all owners of property will be
summarily deprived of all they have, the friendly and co-operative
instincts of human nature will immediately come into play without
friction; that the infinitely complex problems of production and
distribution will solve themselves, as it were, of their own accord;
that there will be a place ready for everybody to do exactly the work
he wants; that everybody will want to work at something, and will be
contented with the wage assigned him, that there will be no shortage,
no lack of adaptation of demand to supply; and all this achieved, not
by virtue of any new knowledge or new capacity, but simply by a
rearrangement of existing elements? Does anyone, does MacCarthy
really, in a calm moment, believe all this? And is he prepared to
stake society upon his faith? If he be, he is indeed beyond the reach
of my watering-pot. I leave him, therefore, burning luridly and
unsubdued, and pass on to Allison.

"Allison's flame is gentler; and I would not wish, even i