Towards democracy

A Note 517

: almost a fusion between our own identity and that of another J person. What does all this mean? Are we really separate

[ [ ) l

;-individuals, or is individuality an illusion,~or again is it only

a part of the ego or soul that is individual, and not the whole? Is the ego absolutely one with the body, or is it only a small part of the body, or again is the body but a part of the selfone of its organs so to speak, and not the whole man? Or lastly is it perhaps not possible to express the truth by any direct use of these or other terms of ordinary language P Anyhow, what am I?

These are questions which come all down Time, demanding solution—which humanity is constantly endeavoring to find an answer to. I do not pretend to answer them. On the contrary I am sure that of one of the pieces in ‘‘ Towards Democracy” has been written with the deliberate view of pro-

_ viding an answer. They have simply been written to express

feelings which insisted on being expressed. Nevertheless it is possible that some of them—by giving the experiences and affirmations even of one person—may contribute material towards that answer to these and the like questions which in some region must assuredly be given.

That there is a region of consciousness removed beyond what we usually call mortality, into which we humans can yet pass, I practically do not doubt; but granting that this is a fact, its explanation still remains for investigation.

I have said in this brief note on “Towards Democracy” nothing about the influence of Whitman—for the same reason. that I have said nothing about the influence of the sun or thewinds. These influences lie too far back and ramify too complexly to be traced. I met with William Rossetti’s little selection from ‘‘ Leaves of Grass” in 1868 or 1869, and read that and the original editions continuously for ten years.