The weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1869-18??, 1870-05-04
For the Standard
What Constitutes the Safety of Gov.
eminent.

SIR: - There ara
reefs of error in the ocean of political affairs
from which the ship of government must
be guarded at any cost. Against the rocks
of danger that stud the waves she must be
warded, even if the lives of the good and
noble be sacrificed in the effort to steer her
right. Though man after man should fall
exhausted at the helm, the work must 90
bravely on until the maelstrom is past, or
the haven OF safety is attained.
National power and permanence are in
alienably allied to national reliability. No
government can remain secure whose faith
is questionable In all high and right aims
the government should be the exempler to
the people.
The evenly balanced scales of equal Jus
tice, the strong staff of Right, and the
bright two-edged sword of Truth are indis-
pensible instruments in moving the machine
ry of all civilized governments.
There must be no breaking of pledges,
or stunning of responsibility, or evading of
promises, or tampering with confidence.
Like that of an honest person the word of
the government must be its bond, its bonds
infeMble as the DEGREES of fate. To mete
out equal justice to all its subjects should
be the chief object and first care of those in
power. The meanest beggar should obtain
hearing as readily as the velvet-yestured
millionaire, the puniest child or the feeblest
woman, as quickly as the strong warrior or
the influential citizen. The officers of jus,
tice should never know the difference be-
tween home-spun and silk, copper and gold,
but to know their duty and do it should be
their honest endeavor. Like goodly tree
whose roots are nourished by river, throw
ing its branches in every direction, its top
most shoots reaching heavenward, and its
fruit sound and sweet and wholesome, yiel-
ded alike to the rich and the poor, the high
and the low, the great and the ignoble. All
the birds of the air may find shelter among
the branches OF this grand and glorious
tree. The eagle upon the upper, the spar
row and wren upon the lower, the quail and
the skylark in the tufts of grass at its roots,
all finding rest and security and protection
among its thick shades, each in the situa-
ton that best suits his habits, tastes and ca
pacities, and all enjoying the advantages of
their respective positions.
So government can be perfected that
shall shower its benefits upon all its people,
and whose weight shall never be felt save in
the pressure of a loving hand, laid Qike that
of a kind parent upon the head in the be-
stowal of blessing.
Economy is the thrift of household and
the wealth of the nation.
Moderation in habits. opinions and man.
ners. denote the wise as well as the WELL
meaning and polite man. So moderation
in all things is essential to the dignity, re-
sponsibillty and continuance of govern
ment.
Whilst calmly and carefully guarding her
children from evil and corrupt and ruinous
courses, lovingly protecting their rights and
gently but firmly maintaining her own sway,
Madame Civil Liberty should watch jealous
ly and supiciously every innovation that does
not bear upon its face plain and unmistaka.
bic signs of nervousness, honesty, patriot
ism and good faith. No half expressed
principles, or ambiguous platforms must
dupe the weaker members of her household
into betraying her interests into the hands
of designing and assembling demagogues.
Whilst tending her own with the tender
ness and concern ofthe nursing mother dove,
she must be ready to make the nlmble
spring of the 1.-the and strong lioness upon
every insidous and encroaching foe, whether
they advance upon her in rank and file
of battle array, or disguised under the
deceitful mask of assumed friendship
whether endeavoring to sneak into the Sc
crets of her domestic circle in the guise of
servants, drawing upon her sympathies, and
trying to ingratiate themselves into her con
fdence as grateful recipients OF her bounty.
Eternal vigilance is the price she pays for all
her goods, nor must she release one jot or
little of her watchfulness in the Iull of de-
ceptive Gains that follow all revolutions,
whether moral or civil 1t is when the
household is wrapt in slumber that the
robber comes and effects an entrance
Theinfuence of a government should tend
to the advancement and pledge itself to the
propagation of the doctrines of Christianity,
which is the embodiment OF true civiliza-
ton. 1t should promote educational facilities
and encourage substantially everything, that
bears in it tendency to all high, great and
noble purposes. cfh
Honor, incorporating integrity, fair
dealing, good faith, being prompt to aid all
good-ready to defeat all evil, the advocate
of Right, the defender OF Truth and the
champion of Justice constitute and estab-
lish the perpetuity of government.
X 4 x X
Yours truly,
REBEccA BLEDsoE BUXTON.