The Silent Revolution, Or, the Future Effects of Steam and Electricity Upon the Condition of Mankind (Paperback)

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1852 Excerpt: ...are developed. The comforts and conveniences of life increased; prejudices are unlearned; causes of separation are forgotten, and superstitions vanish away. The Government by degrees forsakes the sanguinary maxims of extermination and terror, for the wiser and more, humane methods of prevention; the laws become more respected, their execution milder and more effective; crime diminishes, and a strong and salutary public opinion makes its influence felt throughout society. We have purposely confined our view to what has taken place in our own country, and to the limited and comparatively feeble means of intercourse it possessed before the introduction of those mighty agencies of transport and communication which science has recently placed at the disposal of mankind. We have done so on the principle which leads the cautious mariner to try the powers and capacity of his bark upon well-known waters, and by familiar coasts, before he launches into the great undiscovered deep, or as the me chanical inventor embodies his conceptions in a model, before he constructs the engine which is to bring them into full and effective operation. We have now to ascend to a higher point of observation, and to survey a wider prospect. Instead of our own country, the world lies before us. Counties must give place to nations, local prejudices to national enmities. Instead of the effects of intercourse upon popular superstitions, we have to consider its probable influence upon forms of religion, and the irrational faith of races. For the trade of an island, we must put the commerce of mankind; and for civil and municipal legislation, the law of nations. The influences that have softened into mercy our own code of blood, we must trace in their operation on the still more sanguinary a...