human nature. Slavery and despotism are, therefore, in their
nature but a species of warfare. They involve the forcing of men
to act in violation of their true selves. The older doctrine
makes government a matter of force. The strong command the weak,
or the rich exercise lordship over the poor. The new doctrine
makes of government an achievement of adult citizens who agree
among themselves as to what is fit and proper for the good of the
State and who freely observe the rules adopted and apply force
only to the abnormal, the delinquent, and the defective.

Between the upholders of these contradictory views of human
nature there always has been and there always must be perpetual
warfare. Their difference is such as to admit of no compromise;
no middle ground is possible. The conflict is indeed
irresistible. The chief interest in the American crusade against
slavery arises from its relation to this general world conflict
between liberty and despotism.

The Athenians could be democrats and at the same time could
uphold and defend the institution of slavery. They were committed
to the doctrine that the masses of the people were slaves by
nature. By definition, they made slaves creatures void of will
and personality, and they conveniently ignored them in matters of
state. But Americans living in States founded in the era of the
Declaration of Independence could not be good democrats and at
the same time uphold and defend the institution of slavery, for
the Declaration gives the lie to all such assumptions of human
inequality by accepting the cardinal axiom that all men are
created equal and are endowed with certain inalienable rights,
among which are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The