Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1855-09-18
5P % u Z II i G a L
The Office of the People in Govern
ra ment, Religion, and Art. 1'.
BY GEORGE BANCROFT.

.s" d.
In like manner, the best government
rests on the people and not on the lew,
on persons and not on property, on the
free development Of public opinion and
not on authority; because the munIh:
cent Author Of our being has conferred
the gifts Of mind upon every member o.
the human race wi,hou. distinction Of
outward circumstances. Whatever Of
other possessions may be engrossed,
mind asserts its own Independence
Lands, estates, the produce OF mines
the prolific abundance Of the seas, may
be usurped BY Q privileged class. Ava,
rice, assuming the form Of ambitious
power. may grasp realm after realm, sub,
due continents, compass the earth in its
schemes Of, aggrandizement, and sigh a.
ter other wor Ids but, mind eludes The
power Of appropriation /; i exists only
in its own individuality ;it is q properly
which cannot bo copGscated and cannot
be torn away il laughs Of chains; i
bursts from imprisonment; 4 dehes mo-
nopoly. A government Of equal rights,
must, therefore, rest upon mind not
wealth. not brute force, The sum OF moral
intelligence ,,of the community should
rule the State. Prescription can no
more sssume 10 be a valid plea fof poll
tical injustice society studies q eradi'
ca.e established abuses, and TO bring So
cial institutions, and laws into harmony
with moral right; no! dismayed By thu
natural and necessary imperfections q
oil human effort, and not giving way tt
despai,, because every hope does not !, .
once ripen into fruit. ia..a,a h.ya,.r
The public happines. is the true OBJ
ect Of legislation. and can be secpret
only by, The masses OF mankind Them
selves awakening 10 the knowledge AM
the care Of lheir own interests. gu
free institutions have reversed the falls
and ignoble distinctions between men
and refusing ,to crafty ahs Pride of, caste
have Acknowledged the common mind I
be the true material for a common
wealth. Everything has hitherto bee
done for the hanH few.,a Il IS moi, ,poss
BILE 10 endow an 6tislocrscy with create
benefits than they have already enjoyed
there is no room to hope that individual
will be mols highly .sihsdi or moreaull
developed than the greatest ssses'o Pc
times. The world can advance onl
through the culture ofthe moral and |,
tellectual powers Of ths people. To a
comPlishqhisi end BY means Of the PEI
pie thsmiSlvSs, tIsthe highest Pdtposes
government. Hit bsthS duty Of the i
dividual ta H6saaftdtdA pAtfecDipn Ill
the perfection ofs God. ,hYw amush mo
ought nation 10 beth image of, Dsii
The common mind 10 ths'irue' Pari'
marble, tito be wrought Into likeness
ioa Gpd,iit The duty 81 Amsrieais !, |!
cursths culture ndshe happinsss OFT
mssseihyy'ihsI iIIssliaucs, ,-aa t6emsslvl
The abience of the psejudicss q, a. J
oldWoFId, Iaassss sua hers ihe opportu
tyof eonstltlrS independent trpth IN
man ls Isftto sPply the, Instinct Of II
dom 10 svSfy s(6StSsE IiNafall6n and sPnb
interest. w tAseAApftssshsd SON,
n naturA. Ahatdws oan bear hsf s.iglzaatl
whisperS ,l&e HAYS hisidS HtmSSiky :!
lsxyiyH EHtouf 0ssclea spSs. IhssYef
tho natiogfeeeiysss s;yifiss I'D app
prineiplS9 a1aRtcR 10 Europe tho, Vi,
seEs@Sisk 6ialii,&f,tss &fts. s.lEiSSSdSa 8f,a