And we shall find that it leads us to the conclusion that everything a man does is, at the instant when he does it, the only thing he _can_ do: the only thing _he_ can do, _then_. "What! do you mean to say-?" Yes. It is startling. But let us keep our heads cool and our eyes wide open, and we shall find that it is quite true, and that it is not difficult to understand. CHAPTER TWELVE--GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY? WE are to ask whether it is true that everything a man does is the only thing he could do, at the instant of his doing it. This is a very important question, because if the answer is yes, all praise and all blame are undeserved. _ALL_ PRAISE AND _ALL_ BLAME. Let us take some revolting action as a test. A tramp has murdered a child on the highway, has robbed her of a few coppers, and has thrown her body into a ditch. "Do you mean to say that tramp could not help doing that? Do you mean to say he is not to blame? Do you mean to say he is not to be punished?" Yes. I say all those things; and if all those things are not true this book is not worth the paper it is printed on. Prove it? I have proved it. But I have only instanced venial acts, and now we are confronted with murder. And the horror of murder drives men almost to frenzy, so that they cease to think: they can only feel. Murder. Yes, a brutal murder. It comes upon us with a sickening shock. But I said in my first chapter that I proposed to defend those whom God and man condemn, and to demand justice for those whom God and man have wronged. I have to plead for the _bottom_ dog: the lowest, the most detested, the worst. The tramp has committed a murder. Man would loathe him, revile him, hang him: God would cast him into outer darkness. "Not," cries the pious Christian, "if he repent." I make a note of the repentance and pass on. The tramp has committed a murder. It was a cowardly and cruel murder, and the motive was robbery. But I have proved that all motives and all powers; all knowledge and capacity, all acts and all words, are caused by heredity and environment. I have proved that a man can only be good or bad as heredity and environment cause him to be good or bad; and I have proved these things because I have to claim that all punishments and rewards, all praise and blame, are undeserved. And now, let us try this miserable tramp--our brother. GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY? The tramp has murdered a child for her money. What is his defence? I appear for the prisoner, and claim that he is not responsible for his act. (Cries of shame! bosh! lynch him!) I will first of all remind the court of the reasons upon which I base my claim. (Gentleman in white tie rises and declaims vehemently against the immorality of the defence. Talks excitedly about the flood gates of anarchy, and the bulwarks of society, and is with difficulty persuaded to resume his seat.) Clerical environment does not make for toleration and sweet reasonableness. I proceed to open my case.