The Thought of Sir Henry Maine

Extract

Progress, Maine said, is rare in the procession of history; but it is real. Therefore—though never active in affairs of party — he commenced as a moderate Liberal under the influence of Burke's mind, endeavoring to promote cautious reform, reconciling old interests with new energies, preparing society for necessary change, preserving what is best in the ancient order. His Indian career displayed this influence of Burke, this respect for native custom and culture, this calm devotion to a society that is a spirit or a living thing, not a mere mechanical contrivance. Writers on politics who imply that Burke and his school opposed change per se err gravely. Beneficial change is the Providential instrument of social preservation, said Burke, a conservative force; but we must not fall into the vulgar error of thinking that all change is useful reform. The world experiences both improvement and decay; the latter tendency is the easier path, although ruinous at last; and statesmen must train themselves and the people to distinguish healthy change from processes of dissolution. When Henry Maine became convinced that the drift of change in Western society was retrogressive, then, like the astute representative of Burke's school that he was, he became a conservative. Lord Acton, in 1882, was startled and grieved to find Maine using “Toryism” as a term of commendation