You must take into account the truth that society can be severe with individuals only when it has provided them with the means necessary for their moral perfection.

In our country, where there is no society, since there is no unity between the people and the government, the latter should be indulgent, not only because indulgence is necessary but also because the individual, abandoned and uncared for by it, has less responsibility, for the very reason that he has received less guidance.

Besides, following out your comparison, the treatment that is applied to the ills of the country is so destructive that it is felt only in the sound parts of the organism, whose vitality is thus weakened and made receptive of evil.

Would it not be more rational to strengthen the diseased parts of the organism and lessen the violence of the remedy a little ?" "To weaken the Civil Guard would be to endanger the security of the towns." "The security of the towns!" exclaimed Elias bitterly.

"It will soon be fifteen years since the towns have had their Civil Guard, and look: still we have tulisanes, still we hear that they sack towns, that they infest the highways.