The advocate., 1895-05-15
BOOK I.
CHAPTER XI.


who has already committed hlmsefto an enterprise,
and whose manhood naturally rebels at giving it up
"a thing shall by no means advise you tOdo. But,
must assure you, nevertheless, that you and your
followers are doing the very thing which, Of al
things Washington, Hamilton, and their fellow
schemers for strong despotic general government
would most wish to do. Your very Indignation at
tho expressions of the people is leading you to aug
ment and perpetuste their expressions"
"What can you mean? Please explain, said Sgd
ney somewhat annoyed, but really troubled.
"I shall be as plain as l can. But, in the first
place, rest assured that have no scruples against
Instructions OF rebelliOns am born REBEL and
nothing gives greater satisfaction than to hear
that rulers and ruling classes are not having things
all their own way. So long as there exists any gov
eEnment by force at all Of man over man anywhere
on EARTH it is certain that 1t will be an oppressive
government of the rich over the poor for care not
what your Declaration of Independence says, gov
ernments 'are instituted among men, not to protect
mems equal right to lfe liberty and the pursuit Of
happiness but expressly to take away from the
masses and withhold that equal right Look all
over the world and see if there exists any govern
ment anywhere that an intelligent and righteous
people ought not to overthrow. Con history and see
If you find an account Of sny government in any age
Of the past which just people ought to have suf
fered to exist. The government of Massachusetts
10 certainly a great improvement upon all the gov
ernments now existing or which have ever existed
In any other part of the world but it does not seem
TO be entirely satisfactory Nogovernment by force
ever can be satisfactory to any but those in whose
interest that force is employed. So long as gov
eminent exists anywhere, therefore, shall rejoice
TO see uprsings Of the people. 1t will be an indica
tlon that msnhood-that the spirit of righteousness
has not left the race. But have picked up con-
siderable experience in my time, and 1 am not an
enthusiast on the subject of revolutions such have
heretofore occurred-ike your late American reVo-
luton for instance To arouse my enthusiasm and
get me to fight you must show me what Is to be the
morrow Of your revolt If it should succeed. How.
ever, let us return to my dlScOuraging remark con-
cerning the enterprise in which you are engaged.
"Your suggestion which you threw out so casu-
ally, about governments past present and future is
startling. It had never occurred to me BEFORE but
the plain, indisputable fact is that every govern
ment on earth seems to be unsatisfactory to the peO
pie who live under 1t. The Colonies here had been
complaining of the British government almost eVeE
since the landing Of the Pilgrims, and the people in
every colony complained Of their own government
too cannot recall single period in the history OF
Greece, or Rome, or of any European country when
party did not exist which sought to overthrow or
to change in some fundamental manner the govern
ment actually existing at the time. Then, too, !
remember that Arlstote-we had him drilled into
us increasingly at the University ty-Aristote points
out the weary circle in which all nations move He
tells as that despotsm changes to aristocracy, aris
tocracy to democracy, democracy to oligarchy, and
that back to despOtism, and through the
less round over and over again. Nogovernment has
ever remained in the form it's founders gave it. ]
had never thought Of all this In connection with the
startling idea you have thrown out; and it puzzles
me- rs there no way then, for the people to secure
igsaaom from oppEeaaions