The construction of railways and the invention of the telegraphic
system of communication have revolutionized business and changed the
habits of the people, but only the beginnings of their power are yet
seen. They have made it possible for great free governments to exist
permanently. Except for differences of languages all Europe might
become one state, if indeed, first, the individual states could over-
throw all dynastic institutions in families, and all forms of hierarchy
in the churches. These changes to be followed by the abolition of all
forms of mortmain, by the free sale of land, by the distribution of the
estates of deceased persons by operation of law, by compulsory
education with moral training, and the exclusion of all dogmatic
teaching touching the origin or destiny of man. This freedom and the
aggregation of small states in vast governments, by the consent of all
parties, would be security for the peace of the world. With general
peace would come the abolition of great armies, freedom from public
debts, and numerous freeholders. These are the conditions of domestic
and social comfort, the chief and worthiest objects of the State
organization.
In 1830 the movement against the use of intoxicating liquors began--or
rather it was about that year that the movement was strong enough to
lead a small number of country merchants to abandon the trade.
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