The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-11-12
i 1T.


The conclusion is that Aristotle was much
nearer the truth in this matter than Rousseau
or than Hobbies. from whom Rousseau borrowed
his fundamental assum ptions. But II the predi-
cate born slave would more nearly agree
with fact than born free" what is to be said
about born equal?" 1t is pointed out by
Prof. Huxley that Rousseau fought shy OF the
question OF the influence of natural upon po-
ltical equality. But those OF us. he says who
do not care for sentiment. and who do care for
truth cannot evade tho consideration OF that
which is really the key Of the position II
Rousseau. instead OF leaving his children at
founding hospital. had taken the trouble to
discharge a fathers duties toward them. he
would hardly have talked 80 fast about men
being born equal. even in n political sense.
For. If that merely means that all new born
children are political Zeros 1t is. as We have
scen though true enough nothing to the pur-
pose: while il it means that. in their poten-
tialities OF becoming factors in any social
organization citizens in Eousseau's sense
all men born equal. it is proba-
lily the most astoundin. falsity that
ever was put forth by n political speculator:
and that. as all students Of political specula-
ton will agree. is saying good deal for it. In
fact. nothing Is more remarkable than the
wide inequality which children even of the
and moral qualities begin to manifest them
selves livery family spontaneously becomes
n polity. Among the children. there are
some who continue to be. to use Rous-
scans phrase. more honored and more
powerful than the rest, and to make them
selves obeycd' sometimes. indeed. by their
eders) in virtue OF nothing but their moral
and mental qualities. here. political in
equality visihly dogs the heels OF natural
inequality. The group OF children becomes
political body. n ciritds. with its rights OF
property and its distinctions Of rank and power.
And all this comes about neither by force nor
by fraud. but rs the necessary consequence OF
the innate Inequalities OF capability."
Thus. according to Prof. Huxley. men are
certainly not born free. and equal in natural
qualities: when they are born. the pfedicates
free" and equal" in the political sense are
not applicable to them: and, as they develop
year by year. tho differences in the political
potentialities with which they are born be-
come more and moro obviously converted into
actual differences: the inequality OF political
faculty shows itself to DO II necessary conse-
quence OF tho inequality OF natural faculty.
AS regards the primitive condition Of mankind.
Prof. Huxley considers it probably that the
earliest men wero nomads. But he points
out that among n body Of naked. wandering
suvaGes. though there may be no verbally rec
oGnized distinctions of rank or Office. superior
strength and cunning confer authority OF
more valid kind than that secured by acts OF
Parliament There may be no property in
things but tho witless man will be poverty
stricken in IDEAS and tho clever man will DO q
capitalist in that snme commodity which, in
tho long run buys all other commodities. One
will miss opportunities. tho other will mako
them: and proclaim human equality as loudly
rs you like. Witless will servo his brother. So
long as men are men. and society Is society.
human equality will he n dream: and the as
sumption that it does exist is not only untrue
in fact but it sets the mark OF impracticabilty
on every theory OF what ought to be which
starts from it.