The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-02-21

and extraordinary force: to put In the
place OF the delegated will Of the nation.
| the VIII OF a party. often small hut art
| ful and enterprising minority OF the COM
| munity; and. according TO the alternate
| triumDhs OF different parties, 10 MAKE
the public administration the mirror OF
| the ill-concertcd and incongruous projects
| Of faction. rather than the organ OF con-
sistent and wholesome plans digested by
| common cOunsols. and modified by mutual
| interests.
| INFLUENCES or TIME AND HABIT
| However. combinations or associations
] OF the above description may now ana
then answer popular ends: they arc like
| Is. IN the course Of time and things. 20
become potent engines. by which cunning.
| ambitious, and unprncipled men Will DC
! enabled TO subvcrt the power Of the peo-
| pic. and to usurp FOR themselves the
rcins OF government. destroying after
ward the very engines which have lifted
| them 10 unjust dominion.
Toward the preservation OF your gov
! eminent and the permanency OF your
present happy state IT is requisite. not
| only that YOU steadily discOuntcnancs
| irregular oppOsitions to its ACKNOWLEDGED
authority, but also that you resist with
| care the spirit of innovation upon it,
principles however. spcciOus the preteXts.
/ one method OF assault may be TO effect.
i'm the forms Of the Constitution, altera-
| tions. which will impair the energy Of
| The system. and thus 10 undermine what
cannot he directly ovcrthrOwn. In all
The changes TO which YOU may be invit-
ed, remember that time and habit are at
least as necessary 10 fix the true char
acter OF governments. as Of other human
/ institutions. that experience is the surcst
standard by which 10 test the real ten
dency OF the existing constitution Of
country. that facility in changes. upon
the credit OF mere hypothesis and opin-
ION. exposes TO perpetual change from
the endless variety Of hypothesis and
opinion. and remember especially. ihat.
for the efficient management Of your
common interests. in country so eN-
tcnsivc as ours. government OF MS much
yigor as is consistent with the perfect Sc
curitv Of liberty is Indispensable Lib
crty Itself viii find in such government.
with powers properly distributed and nd
fusted. IT'S eurcst guardian. II IL, indeed.
little else than name. where the gov
eminent is too feeble TO Withstand tbs
enterprise of faction. 10 conhna each
member of the society within the limits
prescribed by the laws. and 10 maintain
all in the secure and tranquil enjoyment
of the rights OF person and property.
Il have already intimated 10 you the
danger of parties I'm the state with par
tlcular reference 10 the founding OF them
ON geographical determinations Let me
now take a more comprehensive view.
and warn YOU in the most solemn man
ncr against the bancful effects OF the
spirit of party. generally.
RIVALRY AND FACTION.
This spirit unfortunately. is insepora-
bic from our nature, having fits root in
the strongest passions Of the human
mind. IL exists under different shapes
in an governments. more or less stlled.
controlled. or rcpressed. but, in those OF
the popular FORM it is seen boo IFS great
est rankness. and is truly their worst
enemy
"'rhe alternate dominion Of the one fac
ton over another. sharpened by the spirit
of revenge natural TO party dissension.
which I'm different ages and countries
has pcrpctratcd the most horrid enormi-
ties, is itself a frightful dcspotism But
This leads at length 10 more formal
and permanent despotism. The disorders
and miscros, which result, gradually in-
clino the minds of men TO seek security
and ropOse i'm the absolute power OF au
individual. and sooner OF later the cher
of some prevailing faction. more able or
more fortunate than his competitors.
turns this disposition 90 the purpose ~
his own elevation. ON the ruins OF pub
lic liberty.
without looking forward TO an cx-
trcmity OF this Kind (Which nevertheless
ought not to Doe entirely out Of sighu. the
common and continual mischicfs of the
spirit OF party are sufficient to make DO
the interest ANA dlfy of a. wise people
TO discourage and restrain 10.
"It serves always TO direct the public
councils and oufceble the public admins
trati0n DO aeitates the community with
nl- founded ioalousies and false alarms.
Andlcs the auim0sity of one party against
another. foments occasionally riot aud ln-
surrcction. 10 opens the door to foreign
influence and corruption. which ind
facilitated access 90 The government it-
self through the channels of party pas-
sious. Thus The policy and the win of
ono country are subjected 90 the policy
and viii of another.
There Is am opinion That parties ln
free countries are useful checks uuon
the administration of the government.
ami serve 10 keep alive the spirit OF hn-
erty. This within certain limits is prob
ably true. ana Boo governments OF mon
archical cast patriotism may look with
INDULGENCE. IL not With favor. upon the
spirit of party. But ion those OF the pcpu-
llr character in governments purely clec-
hive. 10 is spirit not to Dee encouraged.
From their natural tendency BE- is core
tain there viii always he enough of that
spirit for every salutary purpose And.
there being constant danger of excess.
tho effort oueht TO be- by force Of pub
lic opinion TO mitigate and assudec d.
A fire not TO be Qucnched. 10 demands
uniform vigilance TO prevent It's bursting
into 30 fame. lest instead of warming, 10
should consume.
CAUTION ~. THINKING.
ut is important. Likewise. that the
habits of thinking i'm free country
should inspire caution. I'm those in
trusted with its administration. to COM
inc Themselves within their respective
constitutional spheres, avoiding i'm the eN-
ercise of the powers Of one department 10
cncroach upon another The spirit of eu-
croachment tends TO consolidate the pow
crs of an the departments i'm one, and
thus TO create. whatever the form OF
government. real dcspousm. 4 just es-
innate of that love of power. and prone
ness TO abuse it. which predominates I'm
the human heart. is sufficient 10 satisfy
us of the truth Of this position. The ne
cossity Of reciprocal checks i'm the cNcr-
else of political power by dividing and
distributing it into different repositories,
and constituting each the guardian of the
public veal against invasions by the 9th
crs. has been cvincod by experiments am
cient and modern. some OF them I'm our
country and under our own eyes. TO
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