The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1840-06-30
THE LESSONS OF HISTORY AND
EXPERIENCE.

EAT EhlElNSE.
One of the strongest feelings excited by the
reading Of the history Of the Republics of Greece
and Rome, or an account OF the decline and
| fall of any free government, is that Of indigna-
| ton against those designing men who, while
they were ilatterng the people with professions
Of love and regard, were secretly undermining
their liberties, and preparing for them the yoke
of servtude. Another feeling excited, and
which is akin to this, is, that of establishment at
the supncness Of the people, and the ease with
which they Were hoodwinked and deceived
that they should not discover the demagogue
under the assumed but himsy cloak Of patriot
ism, and, instead of becoming the dupes and
victims Of such traitors, that they did not in
tict upon them the punishment they so Justly
deserved.
What lover of liberty can read for instance,
the account OF the subversion of the government
of Athens, by that pretended patriot but finished
demagogue and tyrant, Pssistratus, without
glow Of Indignation, and feeling an irrepressibe
desire to caution the Athenians to beware of
this wolf in sleeps clothing,--to warn them
against the pretended love and seductive arts of
one who was endeavoring to win their conf
dence and lull their suspicious that he might
make himself their master2 And who does not
wonder that the people could be so easily deceived
by arts which appear TO US SO plain and palpa-
ble,-that they should be SO silly as to grant his
request, against the advice Of the wise and pa
triotc Scion, for a body of armed men, chosen
b,r N, net
the pretended attacks of his enemies who, he
alleged, hated him because he was the friend and
protector of the people. The result was what
might have been foreseen: with this guard, de-
voted to his interests, the demagogue soon Sc
cured the citadel and made himself absolute
master of the city and the government.
History abounds with lessons which show
how successfully the designing and ambitious
have played off their deceptive arts upon the
people, until they had acquired sufficient power
TO play the tyram over those to whom they had
SO lately acted the sycophdm. But we need
not unroll the scroll Of ancient history for exam
pies Of such political intriguers. Nor need we
enter the Hall of that degenerate and submits
sive Senate which became the mere instrument
of that splendid ,yrant Augustus Cesar, for an
example of Legislators who watch the looks of
him who has both the power and disposition to
reward the faithful, and who with ready alac
rity obey his nod and do his bidding. Nor need
we 90 back TO the times of julius Cesar, TO find
men ready TO approve the seizure of the public
treasure, and sanction its use for the purchase OF
partisans, provided they are assured Of share
Of " the spoils."
No one who is acquainted with public men
and measures, who has watched the movements
and read the motives of those in power in this
country, can, for moment, doubt that we are
now exempfying, in our own, the history Of
Republics once as free and as Hourishing as
ours but which have long since bowed beneath
the sceptre of despotism. No one can doubt
that the annals of our own country are, in the
main, but the annals of nations conf
dent of the perpetuity of their Liberties as we
now are that in less than one eighth of the time
they enjoyed freedom, are have successfully
tested the great experiment of selfgovernment
and proved, ESQ we would fatter ourseves)
that opr Liberties can never be usurped.
II is often remarked, that every generation
must learn for itself, and will not profit by the
experience of others. Whether the remark be,
generally, true or not, we fear it is applicable to
US, for we seem not to heed those fragments
that lie scattered along our course the remains of
other Republics which have been wrecked upon
the rocks of EXECUTIVE Power and fanciedse-
curity, which lie hidden beneath an apparently
smooth surface. That we may avoid these dan
gerous rocks is our most ardent prayer but we
are certainly tending rapidly towards them, and if
we escape, il will not be by means of the skill
Of those in command, but through the interfe-
renee of the crew in whom we have create oni-
dence, provided they can be reused in time and
be made sensible Of their danger
The great lesson which all history-all expert
cnce teaches is, that without rigiiance eternal
unsleeping, jealous rigiidnce, no people can
long enjoy the blessings of liberty and self
governments and that nothing is more DANCE
rous and fatal than apathy, supineness and over
confidence in their rulers. No man of ordinary
understanding expects long 10 enjoy an estate
without looking after il or those entrusted with
its management; why, then, should we not look
h'ei hioSe ''os' N"'u"ot' vi all our possessions,
our rights and liberties They are entrusted to
men in whom we may, perhaps, repose conf
dence; but will they be less faithful if they
know they closely watched2 On the other
hand, is it not possible, if not looked after they
may be tempted TO play false, and use for thcirown
benefit and our injury the power we have placed
in their hands2 "Poper is constantly stealing
from The many 10 The fer;" and the more the
few acuuirp the prenfer will no ther ability