Theloveofourcountryseems，inordinarycases，toinvolveinittwodifferentprinciples；first，acertainrespectandreverenceforthatconstitutionorformofgovernmentwhichisactuallyestablished；andsecondly，anearnestdesiretorendertheconditionofourfellow-citizensassafe，respectable，andhappyaswecan。Heisnotacitizenwhoisnotdisposedtorespectthelawsandtoobeythecivilmagistrate；andheiscertainlynotagoodcitizenwhodoesnotwishtopromote，byeverymeansinhispower，thewelfareofthewholesocietyofhisfellow-citizens。
Inpeaceableandquiettimes，thosetwoprinciplesgenerallycoincideandleadtothesameconduct。Thesupportoftheestablishedgovernmentseemsevidentlythebestexpedientformaintainingthesafe，respectable，andhappysituationofourfellow-citizens；whenweseethatthisgovernmentactuallymaintainstheminthatsituation。Butintimesofpublicdiscontent，faction，anddisorder，thosetwodifferentprinciplesmaydrawdifferentways，andevenawisemanmaybedisposedtothinksomealterationnecessaryinthatconstitutionorformofgovernment，which，initsactualcondition，appearsplainlyunabletomaintainthepublictranquillity。Insuchcases，however，itoftenrequires，perhaps，thehighesteffortofpoliticalwisdomtodeterminewhenarealpatriotoughttosupportandendeavourtore-establishtheauthorityoftheoldsystem，andwhenheoughttogivewaytothemoredaring，butoftendangerousspiritofinnovation。
Foreignwarandcivilfactionarethetwosituationswhichaffordthemostsplendidopportunitiesforthedisplayofpublicspirit。Theherowhoserveshiscountrysuccessfullyinforeignwargratifiesthewishesofthewholenation，andis，uponthataccount，theobjectofuniversalgratitudeandadmiration。Intimesofcivildiscord，theleadersofthecontendingparties，thoughtheymaybeadmiredbyonehalfoftheirfellow-citizens，arecommonlyexecratedbytheother。Theircharactersandthemeritoftheirrespectiveservicesappearcommonlymoredoubtful。
Theglorywhichisacquiredbyforeignwaris，uponthisaccount，almostalwaysmorepureandmoresplendidthanthatwhichcanbeacquiredincivilfaction。
Theleaderofthesuccessfulparty，however，ifhehasauthorityenoughtoprevailuponhisownfriendstoactwithpropertemperandmoderationwhichhefrequentlyhasnot，maysometimesrendertohiscountryaservicemuchmoreessentialandimportantthanthegreatestvictoriesandthemostextensiveconquests。Hemayre-establishandimprovetheconstitution，andfromtheverydoubtfulandambiguouscharacteroftheleaderofaparty，hemayassumethegreatestandnoblestofallcharacters，thatofthereformerandlegislatorofagreatstate；and，bythewisdomofhisinstitutions，securetheinternaltranquillityandhappinessofhisfellow-citizensformanysucceedinggenerations。