Men trained in this way cannot rest satisfied with homely remedies which merely alleviate the evils of the moment.

They wish to "tear up evil by the roots," and to legislate for future generations as well as for themselves.
This tendency was peculiarly strong at the time of the Emancipation.

The educated classes were profoundly convinced that the system of Nicholas I.had been a mistake, and that a new and brighter era was about to dawn upon the country.

Everything had to be reformed.

The whole social and political edifice had to be reconstructed on entirely new principles.
Let us imagine the position of a man who, having no practical acquaintance with building, suddenly finds himself called upon to construct a large house, containing all the newest appliances for convenience and comfort.