The Washington herald., 1918-02-22

compliance with its laws, acquIes-
cence in its measures. are duties en-
Joined by the fundamental maxims Of
true liberty.
."All distractions to the execution
of the laws. all combinations and as
sociations, under whatever plausible
character. with the real design to di-
rect, control. counteract, or awe the
regular deliberation and action of the
constituted authorities. are destruc-
tive of this fundamental principle and
fatal tendency. They serve to orga-
nize faction, TO give 1t an artificial
and extraordinary force; to put in the
place Of the delegated will Of the ma
ton the will Of q party. often a small
but artful and enterprising minority
of the community, and, according TO
the alternate triumphs of different
parties, to make the public admins
tration the mirror of the ill-concerted
and incongruous projects Of faction
rather than the organ OF CONSTANT
and wholesome plans. digested by
common counsels and modified by mu-
tual interests.
Il have already intimated to you the
danger of parties in the State, with
particular reference to the founding
| Of them on geographical discrimIna-
tions. Let me now take a more COM
prehensive view. and warn you in the
most solemn manner against the
baneful effects of the spirit of party
generally.
THE spirit, unfortunately. is insep-
arabic from our nature. having its
roots in the strongest passions OF hu-
| man mind. 1t exists under different
shapes in all governments, more or
less stified, controlled, or repressed:
but in those of the popular form it is
seen in its greatest rankness and is
| truly their enemy.
The alternate domination OF one fac
ton over another. sharpened by the
| spirit OF revenge natural to party dis
! sensions, which in different ages and
countries has perpetuated the most
horrid enorInities. is itself frightful
| depotism. But this leads at length to
more formal and permanent despot-
| ism. The disorders and miseries which
result gradually incline the minds OF
! men to seek security and repose
in the absolute power of an individual,
and sooner or later the child 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.
There Is an opinion that parties in
| free countries are useful checks upon
the administra tion OF the government
and serve to keep alive the spirit OF
| liberty. This within certain limits IL
probably true and in governments OF
monarchical cast patriotism may
look with Indulgence, IL not with
4 favor. upon the spirit OF party. But in
those of the popular character, II
governments purely elective, II Is q
| spirit not to be encouraged. From
their natural tendency II Is certafn
there will be always enough Of that
spirit for every salutary purpose;
\ and there being constant danger Of
excess, the effort ought TO be by force
of public opinion to mitigate and
assuage it. A fire not to be quenched
1t demands a uniform vigilance t.
prevent its bursting into a flame, lest
instead OF warming, it should con.
sumo.
| Observe good faith and justice to-
ward all nations. Cultivate peace ant
harmony with all. Religion and mo
rality enjoin this conduct. And car
1t be that good policy does not equal
ly enjoin It? 1t will be worthy of O
free, enlightened, and at no distan
period great nation to give to man
kind the magnanimous and too move
example of people always guided b.
an exalted Justice and benevolence.
THE. nation prompted by I'll will
and resentment sometimes impels I,
war the government contrary to til
best calculations of policy. The gov
ernment sometimes participates In tn,
national propensity, and !, adopt
through passion what reason woulC
reject. At other times it makes tn
animosity OF the nation subservient t
projects Of hostility, instigated o,
pride, ambition, and other siniste
and pernicious motives. The peac
often. sometimes perhaps the liberty
Of nations has been the victim.
So. likewise, a passionate attach
! iment Of one nation for another pro
i duces a variety of evils. sympath.
for the fayorite nation, facilitatinl
n the illusion of an imaginary commoI
interest in cases where no real com
mon interest exists. and infusing int
one the enmities of the other, betfay
! the former into<a participation inSth
Quarreis and w1rs Of the latter with