BY JAMES FITZJAMES STEPHEN, Q.C. ἡδύ τι θαρσαλέαις τὸν μακρὸν τείνειν βίον ἐλπίσι, φαναῖς θυμὸν ἀλδαίνουσαν ἐν εὐφροσύναις. φρίσσω δέ σε δερκόμενα TO SIR JOHN STRACHEY, K.C.S.I. &c. &c. &c. MY DEAR STRACHEY, I dedicate this book to you for three reasons: First, as an expression of strong personal regard, and of deep gratitude for great kindness, all the more valuable because it resembled that which I received from everyone with whom I had any relations in India. Secondly, in recollection of the month, after the arrival at Calcutta of the news of Lord Mayo's murder, when you acted as Governor-General. The sorrow which we both felt for a man whom each of us had so many grounds, both public and private, to love and honour, and the anxiety and responsibility which we shared during a very trying time, formed a tie between us which I am sure you feel as strongly as I do. Thirdly, because you are one of the most distinguished of Indian civilians, and my Indian experience strongly confirmed the reflections which the book contains, and which had been taking shape gradually in my mind for many years. The commonplaces and the vein of sentiment at which it is levelled appeared peculiarly false and poor as I read the European newspapers of 1870-1 at the headquarters of the Government of India. The book was planned in India, and partly written on my voyage home. I am, my dear STRACHEY, Your sincere friend and late colleague, JAMES FITZJAMES STEPHEN. 24 CORNWALL GARDENS, SOUTH KENSINGTON : March 31, 1873. LIBERTY, EQUALITY, FRATERNITY CHAPTER I. THE DOCTRINE OF LIBERTY IN GENERAL THE OBJECT of this work is to examine the doctrines which are rather hinted at than expressed by the phrase Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity.' This phrase has been the motto of more than one Republic. It is indeed something more than a motto. It is the creed of a religion, less definite than any one of the forms of Christianity, which are in part its rivals, in part its antagonists, and in part its associates, but not on that account the less powerful. It is, on the contrary, one of the most penetrating influences of the day. It shows itself now and then in definite forms, of which Positivism is the one best known to our generation, but its special manifestations give no adequate measure of its depth or width. It penetrates other creeds. It has often transformed Christianity into a system of optimism, which has in some cases retained and in others B |