the american republic-第4节
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were beginning to assert the absolute God…given right of the majority to govern。 All the changes made in the bosom of the States themselves have consisted in removing all obstacles to the irresponsible will of the majority； leaving minorities and individuals at their mercy。 This tendency to a centralized democracy had more to do with provoking secession and rebellion than the anti…slavery sentiments of the Northern； Central； and Western States。
The failure of secession and the triumph of the National cause； in spite of the short…sightedness and blundering of the Administration； have proved the vitality and strength of the national constitution； and the greatness of the American people。 They say nothing for or against the democratic theory of our demagogues； but every thing in favor of the American system or constitution of government； which has found a firmer support in American instincts than in American statesmanship。 In spite of all that had been done by theorists； radicals； and revolutionists； no…government men； non…resistants； humanitarians； and sickly sentimentalists to corrupt the American people in mind； heart； and body； the native vigor of their national constitution has enabled them to come forth 12 triumphant from the trial。 Every American patriot has reason to be proud of his country…men； and every American lover of freedom to be satisfied with the institutions of his country。 But there is danger that the politicians and demagogues will ascribe the merit； not to the real and living national constitution； but to their miserable theories of that constitution； and labor to aggravate the several evils and corrupt tendencies which caused the rebellion it has cost so much to suppress。 What is now wanted is； that the people； whose instincts are right； should understand the American constitution as it is； and so understand it as to render it impossible for political theorists； no matter of what school or party； to deceive them again as to its real import； or induce them to depart from it in their political action。
A work written with temper； without passion or sectional prejudice； in a philosophical spirit； explaining to the American people their own national constitution； and the mutual relations of the General government and the State governments； cannot； at this important crisis in our affairs； be inopportune； and； if properly executed； can hardly fail to be of real service。 Such a work is now attemptedwould it were by another and abler hand 13 which； imperfect as it is； may at least offer some useful suggestions； give a right direction to political thought； although it should fail to satisfy the mind of the reader。
This much the author may say； in favor of his own work； that it sets forth no theory of government in general； or of the United States in particular。 The author is not a monarchist； an aristocrat； a democrat； a feudalist； nor an advocate of what are called mixed governments like the English； at least for his own country； but is simply an American； devoted to the real； living； and energizing constitution of the American republic as it is； not as some may fancy it might be； or are striving to make it。 It is； in his judgment； what it ought to be； and he has no other ambition than to present it as it is to the understanding and love of his countrymen。
Perhaps simple artistic unity and propriety would require the author to commence his essay directly with the United States； but while the constitution of the United States is original and peculiar； the government of the United States has necessarily something in common with all legitimate governments； and he has thought it best to precede his discussion of the American republic； its constitution； tenden… 14 cies； and destiny； by some considerations on government in general。 He does this because he believes； whether rightly or not； that while the American people have received from Providence a most truly profound and admirable system of government； they are more or less infected with the false theories of government which have been broached during the last two centuries。 In attempting to realize these theories； they have already provoked or rendered practicable a rebellion which has seriously threatened the national existence； and come very near putting an end to the American order of civilization itself。 These theories have received already a shock in the minds of all serious and thinking men； but the men who think are in every nation a small minority； and it is necessary to give these theories a public refutation； and bring back those who do not think； as well as those who do； from the world of dreams to the world of reality。 It is hoped； therefore； that any apparent want of artistic unity or symmetry in the essay will be pardoned for the sake of the end the author has had in view。
CHAPTER II。
GOVERNMENT。
Man is a dependent being； and neither does nor can suffice for himself。 He lives not in himself； but lives and moves and has his being in God。 He exists； develops； and fulfils his existence only by communion with God； through which he participates of the divine being and life。 He communes with God through the divine creative act and the Incarnation of the Word； through his kind； and through the material world。 Communion with God through Creation and Incarnation is religion； distinctively taken； which binds man to God as his first cause； and carries him onward to God as his final cause； communion through the material world is expressed by the word property； and communion with God through humanity is society。 Religion； society； property； are the three terms that embrace the whole of man's life； and express the essential means and conditions of his existence； his development； and his perfec… 16 tion； or the fulfilment of his existence； the attainment of the end for which he is created。
Though society； or the communion of man with his Maker through his kind； is not all that man needs in order to live； to grow； to actualize the possibilities of his nature； and to attain to his beatitude； since humanity is neither God nor the material universe； it is yet a necessary and essential condition of his life； his progress； and the completion of his existence。 He is born and lives in society； and can be born and live nowhere else。 It is one of the necessities of his nature。 〃God saw that it was not good for man to be alone。〃 Hence； wherever man is found he is found in society； living in more or less strict intercourse with his kind。
But society never does and never can exist without government of some sort。 As society is a necessity of man's nature； so is government a necessity of society。 The simplest form of society is the familyAdam and Eve。 But though Adam and Eve are in many respects equal； and have equally important though different parts assigned them； one or the other must be head and governor； or they cannot form the society called family。 They would be simply two individuals of different sexes； and the family would fail for the want of unity。
17 Children cannot be reared； trained； or educated without some degree of family government； of some authority to direct； control； restrain； or prescribe。 Hence the authority of the husband and father is recognized by the common consent of mankind。 Still more apparent is the necessity of government the moment the family develops and grows into the tribe； and the tribe into the nation。 Hence no nation exists without government； and we never find a savage tribe； however low or degraded； that does not assert somewhere in the father； in the elders； or in the tribe itself； the rude outlines or the faint reminiscences of some sort of government； with authority to demand obedience and to punish the refractory。 Hence； as man is nowhere found out of society； so nowhere is society found without government。
Government is necessary： but let it be remarked by the way； that its necessity does not grow exclusively or chiefly out of the fact that the human race by sin has fallen from its primitive integrity； or original righteousness。 The fall asserted by Christian theology； though often misinterpreted； and its effects underrated or exaggerated； is a fact too sadly confirmed by individual experience and universal history； but it is not the cause why government is neces… 18 sary； though it may be an additional reason for demanding it。 Government would have been necessary if man had not sinned； and it is needed for the good as well as for the bad。 The law was promulgated in the Garden； while man retained his innocence and remained in the integrity of his nature。 It exists in heaven as well as on earth； and in heaven in its perfection。 Its office is not purely repressive； to restrain violence； to redress wrongs； and to punish the transgressor。 It has something more to do than to restrict our natural liberty； curb our passions； and maintain justice between man and man。 Its office is positive as well as negative。 It is needed to render eff
