That formula is of prodigious importance. The principle of
the equal rights of every living being and the sacred will of the
majority is infallible and must be invincible; all progress will be
brought about by it, all, with a force truly divine. It will bring
first the smooth bed-rock of all progress--the settling of quarrels
by that justice which is exactly the same thing as the general
advantage.
And these men of the people, dimly seeing some unknown Revolution
greater than the other, a revolution springing from themselves and
already rising, rising in their throats, repeat "Equality!"
It seems as if they were spelling the word and then reading it
distinctly on all sides--that there is not upon the earth any
privilege, prejudice or injustice that does not collapse in contact
with it. It is an answer to all, a word of sublimity. They revolve
the idea over and over, and find a kind of perfection in it. They
see errors and abuses burning in a brilliant light.
"That would be fine!" said one.
"Too fine to be true!" said another.
But the third said, "It's because it's true that it's fine. It has
no other beauty, mind! And it's not because it's fine that it will
come. Fineness is not in vogue, any more than love is. It's because
it's true that it has to be."
"Then, since justice is wanted by the people, and the people have
the power, let them do it."
"They're beginning already!" said some obscure lips.
"It's the way things are running," declared another.
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