The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1806-09-12
home to the bu6nefs and bofo,n" of every
real republican.

.
Srppsing that we hould even be obliged to take
democracy with all the disadvantages that were ever
annexed to 1t, and that remedy could be dcover-
ed for any OF Its defects il would be ftill greatly pre-
terable to the eIcnilye ytem of other forms. Let US
take Athens with all IT'S turbulence and initablity ;
with the popular and temperate uiurpatons of Piif-
tratas aud Perioes; with their monrous otraciln,.
by which with undilguifed injuaice they accuf
toned periodically to baniih fome eminent citizen
without the in,pu,aon of crime with the in,pri-
i'nment OF Ml,iades, the exile OF Ariaides and the
MURDER OF Phocion with all thcie errors on its head
It is iHcontrovertbe that Athens exhibited more IL
luitrious and envable fpeacle than all the nonar-
ches and ar'eocraces that ever exiited. Who would
REJECT their gallant love of virtue and INDEPENDENCE
bseaueis was accompanied with iome irregularities
Who would PATS unreIerved condemnation upon
their penetrating mind, their quick difcercnt and
their ardent feeling, b-eaule they !nhje& occa-
ionaiiy to be incorporate aud impe,uous Shall we
compare people of fuch incredible achievements,
Iueh ekqniu's refinement, gay without infenibity and
ipiend'd "i'hou, intemperance, i'll the midi Of whom
grew mp the greasett poets, the noo!ea ar,iGs, the
ms!t hni'hed orators and political writer's ard tine
mott diiinterelted poiophers the world ever Jaw
HAL we compare this choferl.at of patrotiin, indie
pendrnee and goleroue virtue. with the torpid and
ieinih real'ns OF monarchy and arihrooracy All is
not haPPineis that looks tranquility. Better were u
portion OF turbulence aud HuStuation, than that UNI
whoetome calm, IN which all the bet faculties Of the
human mind are turned TO putreieence and potion.
In the Ultimate that is ufuay made of democracy,
one OF the noh algrant fources OF lies in
taking mankind fuch monarchy & arittocracy have
made them, aud from thence judging how III they
are to lcyiilae FOR themlelves. Monarchy and arf-
tocraey would b. evils, if their tendency not
to undermine the virtues aud the understandings of
their iubjeas The thing mot neeeaarys to re-
move all thoie reGraints which hold mind back from
ITS natural flight. Implicit faith, bind lubmiioi to
authority, tnid fear, di!truh of our powers, in
attention to our own Importance and the good pur-
poies we are able to ee, ,hefe the chief obits-
cies to human Improvement. Democracy re(tores TO
man eonfciouneis Of his value, teaches him by the
removal of authority and opPrellon lGen only to
tie dictates of rsafon, gives him confidence to treat
all other men as his fellow beings, and induces him to
regard them no longer as enemies againG whom e
upon his guard, but as brethren whom il becomes
him TO aiiit. The ci zen of democraiiell Rate,
when he looksupon the mifera5le oppreiion and in
Iustice that prevail the countries around him, cannot
but entertain an inexPreibe eeem for the advanta-
ges ne enjoys and the mott unalterabe DISCRIMINATE
on at ali hazards to preerVe them. The influence OF
democracy upon the fenments of its members is alto
gether OF the negative FORT but it's consequences are
ineitimable. Nothing can be UNREASONABLE than
TO argue from men az we find tAern to men rs
they may hereafter be made Stria and accurate rea-
tonng, inaead of fuferng be furpriled that A.
thens did 10 much, would fra induce us to wonder
that the retained 10 many imperfeaions."