govern another rather than the contrary.”  (Hallam—­Literature of Europe, Vol. 3, Chap. 4.) Dr. Murray, in the essay already quoted, speaks of Sir James Mackintosh as the ablest Protestant writer who refuted the Anglican theory, which Mackintosh speaks of as “The extravagance of thus representing obedience as the only duty without an exception.”  Dr. Murray concludes his own essay on Resistance to the Supreme Civil Power by a long passage from Mackintosh, the weight and wisdom of which he praises.  The greater part of the passage is devoted to the difficulties even of success and emphasising the terrible evils of failure.  In what has already been written here I have been at pains rather to lay bare all possible evils than to hide them.  But when revolt has become necessary and inevitable, then the conclusion of the passage Dr. Murray quotes should be endorsed by all:  “An insurrection rendered necessary by oppression, and warranted by a reasonable probability of a happy termination, is an act of public virtue, always environed with so much peril as to merit admiration.”  Yes, and given the happy termination, the right and responsibility of establishing a new government rest with the body of the people.

V

We come, then, to this conclusion, that government is just only when rightfully established and for the public good; that usurpation not only may but ought to be resisted; that an authority originally legitimate once it becomes habitually tyrannical may be resisted and deposed; and that when from abuse or tyranny a particular government ceases to exist, we have to re-establish a true one.  It is sometimes carelessly said, “Liberty comes from anarchy,” but this is a very dangerous doctrine.  It would be nearer truth to say from anarchy inevitably comes tyranny.  Men receive a despot to quell a mob.  But when a people, determined and disciplined, resolve to have neither despotism nor anarchy but freedom, then they act in the light of the Natural Law.  It is well put in the doctrine of St. Thomas, as given by Turner in his History of Philosophy (Chap. 38):  “The redress to which the subjects of a tyrant have a just right must be sought, not by an individual, but by an authority temporarily constituted by the people and acting according to law.”  Yes, and when wild and foolish people talk hysterically of our defiance of all authority, let us calmly show we best understand the basis of Authority—­which is Truth, and most highly reverence its presiding spirit—­which is Liberty.

CHAPTER XVIII

RESISTANCE IN ARMS—­OBJECTIONS

I