Montesinos.—­The opinion is stated more broadly than I should choose to advance it.  But this is ever the manner of argumentative discourse:  the opponent endeavours to draw from you conclusions which you are not prepared to defend, and which perhaps you have never before acknowledged even to yourself.  I will put the proposition in a less disputable form.  A happier condition of society is possible than that in which any nation is existing at this time, or has at any time existed.  The sum both of moral and physical evil may be greatly diminished both by good laws, good institutions, and good governments.  Moral evil cannot indeed be removed, unless the nature of man were changed; and that renovation is only to be effected in individuals, and in them only by the special grace of God.  Physical evil must always, to a certain degree, be inseparable from mortality.  But both are so much within the reach of human institutions that a state of society is conceivable almost as superior to that of England in these days, as that itself is superior to the condition of the tattooed Britons, or of the northern pirates from whom we are descended.  Surely this belief rests upon a reasonable foundation, and is supported by that general improvement (always going on if it be regarded upon the great scale) to which all history bears witness.

Sir Thomas More.—­I dispute not this:  but to render it a reasonable ground of immediate hope, the predominance of good principles must be supposed.  Do you believe that good or evil principles predominate at this time?

Montesinos.—­If I were to judge by that expression of popular opinion which the press pretends to convey, I should reply without hesitation that never in any other known age of the world have such pernicious principles been so prevalent

“Qua terra patet, fera regnat Erinnys;
In facinus jurasse putes.”

Sir Thomas More.—­Is there not a danger that these principles may bear down everything before them? and is not that danger obvious, palpable, imminent?  Is there a considerate man who can look at the signs of the times without apprehension, or a scoundrel connected with what is called the public press, who does not speculate upon them, and join with the anarchists as the strongest party?  Deceive not yourself by the fallacious notion that truth is mightier than falsehood, and that good must prevail over evil!  Good principles enable men to suffer, rather than to act.  Think how the dog, fond and faithful creature as he is, from being the most docile and obedient of all animals, is made the most dangerous, if he becomes mad; so men acquire a frightful and not less monstrous power when they are in a state of moral insanity, and break loose from their social and religious obligations.  Remember too how rapidly the plague of diseased opinions is communicated, and that if it once gain head, it is as difficult to be stopped as a conflagration or a flood.  The prevailing opinions of this age go to the destruction of everything which has hitherto been held sacred.  They tend to arm the poor against the rich; the many against the few:  worse than this, for it will also be a war of hope and enterprise against timidity, of youth against age.