He  thinks  they  stagnated  because  they  never  gained
political  autonomy,  being  always  owned  by  some
Continental  power.  I  will  not  dispute  the  theory;
but  I  will  ask,  Why  did  they  not  gain  it?  and  answer
immediately :  Simply  because  no  individuals  were

16


242          Essays  in  Popular  Philosophy.
