Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1907-04-19

has penetrated the most horrid enor-
mites is itself r frightful despotism.
But this leads at length to more formal
and permanent despotism. The dis
orders and miseries which result, grad
ualy incline the minds OF men to seek
security and repose in the absolute
power OF an individual, and sooner or
later the chief OF some prevailing faction,
more able or more fortunate than his
competitors. turns this disposition to the
purposes Of his own elevation on the
ruins of public liberty.
1T is important, likewise, that the
habits OF thinking. i'll free country.
should inspire caution to those intruSted
with its administration, to coniine them
selves within their respective cOnstitu-
tiunal spheres. avoiding in the exercise
If the powers ri one department to en-
croach upon another. The spirit Of en-
enactment tends To consolidate the pow
ers OF all departments in one, and thus
To create, whatever the form of govern
ment. real despotism A just estimate
Of that love Of power, ard proneness to
abuse it. which predominates in the
human heart, is sufficient to satisfy us OF
the truth of this position. The necessity
OF reciprocal checks in the exercise of
political power, 10y dividing and dis
trbutiny it into different repositories,
and constituting each the guardian Of
the pubic veal against invasiOns by the
others, has been evinced by experiments
ancient and modern some Of them in
our country and under our own eyes. To
preserve them must he as necessary as
to institute them. If, in the opinion
of the people, the distribution or modi
fication of the constitutional powers be
in any particular wrong. let it be correct
ell 10y an amendment in the way which
the Constitution designates. But let
there be no change by usurpation; for
though this, in one instance, may be the
instrument of good, it is the customary
weapon by which free governments are
destroyed. The precedent must always
greatly over-balance in permanent evil
any partial or transient benefit which the
use can at any time yield.
so, likewise, a passionate attachment
of one nation for another produces a
variety OF evils. sympathy for the favor
lite nation, facilitating the illusion of an
imaginary common interest in cases
where no real common interest exists,
and infusing into one the enmities of the
OtuCis tIlC iOItlcI ltltO
patton in the quarrels and wars of the
latter, without adequate inducement or
justification. 1t leads also to conces-
sions to the favorite nation of privileges
denied to others, which is apt doubly to
injure the nation making the conces-
sions by unnecessarily parting with
what ought to have been retained; and
by exciting jealousy, ill-will and a dis
position to retaliate, in the parties from
whom equal privileges are withheld.
And it gives to ambitious, corrupted or
deluded citizens twho devote themselves
to the favorite natiOn) facility to betray
or sacrifice the interest of their own
country. without odium, sometimes even
with popularity; gliding with the ap-
pearance of virtuOus sense of obligation
a commendable Difference for public
opinion, or laudable zeal for public
good, the base or foolish complances of
ambition, corruption, or infatuation."
These are the words of our first
President, enjoining moderation of
party spirit, a warning against the
mischief of foreign intrigue and an
appeal to guard against the imposi-
tions of pretended patriotism.
How prophetic they are in the light
of present events!