On the Spirit of Patriotism。htm

第5章

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第5章

On the Spirit of Patriotism。htm 佚名

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  Thesafetyofthecommonwealthdepended,inthatcriticalconjuncture,onacoalitionofparties,thesenatorianandtheequestrian:

  Tullyhadformedit,Catobrokeit。Butifthisgood,forIthinkhewasnotanable,manerredintheparticularrespectsIhaveventuredtomention,hedeservedmostcertainlythegloryheacquiredbythegeneraltenorofhisconduct,andbydedicatingthewholelabourofhislifetotheserviceofhiscountry。Hewouldhavedeservedmoreifhehadpersistedinmaintainingthesamecausetotheend,andwouldhavediedIthinkwithabettergraceatMundathanatUtica。Ifthisbeso,ifCatomaybecensured,severelyindeed,butjustly,forabandoningthecauseofliberty,whichhewouldnothoweversurvive;whatshallwesayofthose,whoembraceitfaintly,pursueitirresolutely,growtiredofitwhentheyhavemuchtohope,andgiveitupwhentheyhavenothingtofear?

  MyLord,Ihaveinsistedthemoreonthisdutywhichmenowetotheircountry,becauseIcameoutofEngland,andcontinuestill,stronglyaffectedwithwhatIsawwhenIwasthere。Ourgovernmenthasapproached,nearerthaneverbefore,tothetrueprinciplesofit,sincetheRevolutionofonethousandsixhundredandeightyeight:andtheaccessionofthepresentfamilytothethrone,hasgiventhefairestopportunities,aswellasthejustestreasons,forcompletingtheschemeofliberty,andimprovingittoperfection。Butitseemstome,that,inourseparateworld,asthemeansofassertingandsupportinglibertyareincreased,allconcernforitisdiminished。Ibeheld,whenIwasamongyou,moreabjectservility,inthemannersandbehaviourofparticularmen,thanIeversawinFrance,orthanhasbeenseenthere,Ibelieve,sincethedaysofthatGascon,who,beingturnedoutoftheminister\'sdoor,leapedinagainathiswindow。Astobodiesofmen,IdarechallengeyourLordship,andIamsorryforit,toproduceanyinstancesofresistancetotheunjustdemands,orwantonwillofacourt,thatBritishParliamentshavegiven,comparabletosuchasIamabletocitetothehonouroftheparlementofParis,andthewholebodyofthelawinthatcountry,withinthesamecompassoftime。ThisabjectservilitymayappearjustlythemorewonderfulinBritain,becausethegovernmentofBritainhas,insomesort,theappearanceofanoligarchy。andmonarchyisratherhidbehinditthanshown,ratherweakenedthanstrengthened,ratherimposeduponthanobeyed。

  Thewonderthereforeistoobserve,howimaginationandcustom(agiddyfoolandaformalpedant)haverenderedthesecabals,oroligarchies,morerespectedthanmajestyitself。Thatthisshouldhappenincountrieswhereprinces,whohaveabsolutepower,maybetyrantsthemselves,orsubstitutesubordinatetyrants,isnotwonderful。Ithashappenedoften:butthatitshouldhappeninBritain,maybejustlyanobjectofwonder。Inthesecountries,thepeoplehadlostthearmouroftheirconstitution:theywerenakedanddefenceless。

  Oursismorecompletethanever。Butthoughwehavepreservedthearmour,wehavelostthespiritofourconstitution:andthereforewebear,fromlittleengrossersofdelegatedpower,whatourfatherswouldnothavesufferedfromtrueproprietorsoftheroyalauthority。Parliamentsarenotonly,whattheyalwayswere,essentialpartsofourconstitution,butessentialpartsofouradministrationtoo。Theydonotclaimtheexecutivepower。No。Buttheexecutivepowercannotbeexercisedwithouttheirannualconcurrence。

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