32

Logic II 32

horrible wickedness of every mortal weight, the idea
of right and wrong is nevertheless the greatest power
on this earth, to which every knee must sooner or later
bow or be broken down; or do you think that this is
another notion at which common sense should smile?
Even if you are of the negative opinion, still you must
acknowledge that the affirmative is intelligible.
Here, then, is an are the instances of ideas which either have, or
are believed to have, life, the power of bringing things
to pass, here below. Perhaps you may object that right
and wrong are only a power because there are or would be powerful
men who are disposed to make them so; just as they might
take it into their heads to make tulip-fancying, or free-masonry,
or Volapük a power. But you must acknowledge that this
is not the opinion of affirmative position of those
on the affirmative side. On the contrary, they hold that
it is the idea which will create its defenders, and render