ORIGIN OF GOVERNMENT. GOVERNMENT is both a fact and a right. Its
origin as a fact, is simply a question of history; its origin as
a right or authority to govern, is a question of ethics. Whether
a certain territory and its population are a sovereign state or
nation, or not whether the actual ruler of a country is its
rightful ruler, or not is to be determined by the historical
facts in the case; but whence the government derives its right
to govern, is a question that can be solved only by philosophy,
or, philosophy failing, only by revelation. Political writers,
not carefully distinguishing between the fact and the right,
have invented various theories as to the origin of government,
among which may be named I. Government originates in the right
of the father to govern his child. II. It originates in
convention, and is a social compact. III. It originates in the
people, who, collectively taken, are sovereign. IV. Government
springs from the spontaneous development of nature. V. It
derives its right from the