The last fifty years have seen a great change in our conception of the state and its functions. According to Lord Melbourne the functions of the state in time of peace were “ to keep order and to enforce the sanctity of contracts,” and in spite of his ability to extemporize life-long convictions, and to exhibit startling inconsistencies, Mr. Gladstone had essentially the same policeman's conception. Their belief, in some ways a splendid belief, in the individual, their desire to free mankind from the shackles of an outworn feudalism, led the Victorians to hold this negative conception of the state, and to think that positive results would best be attained by the unchecked activity of vigorous individuals.